E&E tracks work on a post-Kyoto agreement for curbing emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases -- from 2007 U.N. talks in Bali to the December 2009 summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, and beyond.
E&E tracks efforts on Capitol Hill to pass cap-and-trade legislation, as well as the prospect of U.S. EPA greenhouse gas regulations. Click here to view the report.
"Changing Climates in North American Politics" author Stacy VanDeveer discusses public, private action on emissions reduction. (OnPoint, 12/17/2009)
American Chemistry Council's Cal Dooley calls on Congress to pre-empt EPA emissions regulation. (OnPoint, 12/15/2009)
Natural Resources Defense Council's Dan Lashof discusses state of international climate negotiations. (OnPoint, 12/14/2009)
Environmental ministers from China, India, Brazil and South Africa will meet later this month to finalize their positions ahead of a Jan. 31 deadline for Copenhagen Accord countries to submit emission targets and climate change action plans.
The four nations will meet Jan. 25-28 in New Delhi, India's environment minister, Jairam Ramesh, said late last week. The countries are expected to put forward their existing plans to curb emissions and will also discuss how to persuade other countries to join the accord, Ramesh told the Economic Times of India.
"The main challenge is that an agreement by 29 countries needs to be converted into one by 194 countries," Ramesh said.
At least 101 people related to Congress attended the December U.N. climate summit in Copenhagen, requiring three military jets, CBS News reports.
The congressional delegation's total cost to the public isn't yet known, but CBS reports that each jet cost $168,000 for flight time alone. Dozens more attendees flew commercial airlines for up to $2,000 per person, while 321 hotel rooms were booked, many at Copenhagen's five-star Marriott.
Attendees included House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), whose office would not comment to CBS News; House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.); and Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.).
Another attendee, Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), said of the trip: "They're going because it's the biggest party of the year."
The creators of fake Environment Canada Web sites have accused the Canadian government of shutting down thousands of sites without a warrant.
Four Greenpeace activists who entered the Copenhagen summit state dinner unauthorized were released from prison yesterday but will face trial later this year. They will be accompanied by five additional protesters who participated in the scheme.
India plans to move forward with its plans to combat climate change without waiting for global finances to shore up its efforts.
| The meandering road to a global climate deal | |
| Year, Location | Event |
| 1992, Rio de Janeiro | Negotiations start with completion of U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Countries agree to voluntarily reduce emissions with "common but differentiated responsibilities." |
| 1995, Berlin | The first annual Conference of the Parties to the framework, known as a "COP." Sets up a two-year negotiation schedule. U.S. agrees to exempt developing countries from binding obligations. |
| 1997, Kyoto | COP-3 diplomats approve the Kyoto Protocol. Mandates developed countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions. U.S. is required to cut total emissions 7 percent below 1990 levels. |
| 1998, Buenos Aires | COP-4 sets two-year plan for Kyoto implementation in 2000. |
| 2000, The Hague | Outgoing Clinton administration and Europeans differ on some COP-6 terms. Talks collapse. |
| 2001, Bonn | An extended session of the COP-6 talks sets up terms for compliance and adaptation, but the Bush administration rejects a treaty, claiming it is "flawed." |
| 2004, Buenos Aires | U.S. blocks formal negotiations on post-Kyoto treaty. COP-10 diplomats try informal talks. |
| 2007, Bali | COP-13 diplomats approve schedule for post-Kyoto negotiations to end in 2009. This time, as presidential candidates warm to the subject of climate change, U.S. agrees. |
| 2009, Copenhagen | President Obama and small group of world leaders produce the Copenhagen Accord, where countries will make promises to cut carbon emission but with key decisions still remaining on how they will follow through. Also calls for the immediate launch of a forest carbon market and a "mechanism" to help countries develop and deploy clean energy technology. And launches new flow of money -- $100 billion annually by 2020 -- never before mobilized for poor countries to cope with climate disasters and develop clean-energy economies. |
| Timeline by Darren Samuelsohn and John Fialka. Last updated Jan. 12, 2010. | |
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