World News Blog

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Mexico agrees to carbon cap at Poznan

Mexico has agreed to cap greenhouse gas emissions and called on other developing nations to do the same. Mexican delegates at the Poznan climate change conference said they would cut emission levels from 2002 by 50 percent by 2050.

However, the reiterated that pledges by developing nations depended on the carbon trading system promised by wealthier nations.

"The economic crisis is serious; yet when it comes to climate change, the stakes are far higher," U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the conference. "The climate crisis affects our potential prosperity and our people's lives, both now and far into the future."

AFP
Mexico announces carbon cap at climate talks
The Associated Press - 4 hours ago
Companies that reduce their emissions below those limits could sell their unused allowances on the international carbon market. The move makes Mexico the ...
Mexico Vows to Cut Carbon Pollution 50 Percent by 2050 Voice of America
Mexico vows to cut carbon pollution 50 percent by 2050 AFP
Mexico leads the way with carbon reduction pledge guardian.co.uk

Labels: carbon cap, green house gases, mexico, poznan conference

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

UN climate change talks hit snags

UN climate talks in Poznan, Poland were lumbering along with many nations hesitant to commit to specific targets.

Interestingly, China, which was non-committal at the earlier Kyoto talks, has taken something of the lead even suggesting a bold proposal. China has suffered severely from pollution caused by dirty coal-burning plants that have fueled its meteoric rise.

Beijing will agree to a plan that places carbon limits based on per capita emission levels for every person on the planet. For example, China argues that a 2.33 tonnes of carbon cap for each individual in the world would force rich nations to buy allowances from poorer nations, which emit less.

One reason China may be enthusiastic about the plan is that according to some estimates it will not be until 2050 that Beijing would reach the proposed limits. The United States, on the other hand, already produces a whopping 20 tonnes of carbon per capita.

There will be some exceptions to the limit, for example, Russia because of its position in the colder northern hemisphere will be allowed a higher cap for heating needs.

The proposal though sounds fair as it appears to balance out the load between rich and poor nations who have not contributed equally to the present problem of climate change.

ABC News

All eyes on EU as UN climate talks stumble on
AFP - 1 hour ago
POZNAN, Poland (AFP) - UN talks on crafting a new climate change treaty lurched forward here on Wednesday, with delegates hoping the EU might lead the way by signing its own pact at a crunch summit this week.
Rich nations plan "great escape" on climate: China Reuters
Poznan climate talks: what's the forecast? CNN International