G20/8
Unfortunately no positive climate outcomes out of the G20 meeting 
As Kumi Naidoo, Greenpeace International’s Executive Director said: ‘The G8 leaders have chosen to distract themselves with the false solutions of carbon capture and storage, nuclear power and biofuels. I see no leadership here, the G8 has failed again.” Article Here
Countries had earlier committed to announcing deadlines for the phase out of fossil fuel subsidies but this didn’t happen. In fact they seem to be stepping away from that commitment- with Canada taking the lead. Article Here
ETS NEWS
So first up our ETS. I went to Nick Smith’s ‘Consultation Meeting’ in Wellington about this last night, which was a fabulous display in greenwashing. My favourite quote was “Last year we had people angry because we weren’t doing enough, this year we’ve got people angry because it’s costing them too much. That makes me think we must have the balance about right.” Interesting logic, Mr Smith. So here are two articles about the costs that our ETS is inflicting on consumers (here and here).
In the US, it looks as though it may be some time before Obama gets his carbon pricing up and running. Allthough it looks as though the senate (Guardian article here) is pushing for a ‘Green Bank’ that would offer direct financing and loans for clean energy infrastructure.
In the UK, businesses seem to be doing their darndest to ensure the ETS doesn’t actually reduce any real emissions by taking part in tricky funding of offshore companies that destroy HCFC-22 gas for low prices- scandalous! Article here
And if all this wasn’t enough to make you question carbon pricing, this article explains how rich nations will be able to use ‘hot air’ (extra credits floating around due to the Soviet economy collapse just after 1990, when credits are based on), and offsets to actually INCREASE their real emissions by up to 8%.
If any of you haven’t seen ‘The story of cap and trade’ I really recommend you watch it. Its only a couple of minutes long and whether you agree with it or not, it will explain where a lot of people are coming from in the climate justice world.
Lastly in the carbon pricing world, this blog (thanks Kirk!) is about the top down (carbon pricing) vs bottom up (regulation) approach to climate change and comes out in favour of carbon pricing. Just to give the other side of the debate…..
In other domestic climate news… Fonterra wants to expand its production by %50… WHAT THE???
In Negotiation News
This is an interesting article about the challenges in keeping the negotiations democratic for the incoming executive secretary. And also points out the fine work Yvo de Boer did in trying to keep things just and equal.
How to Talk to a Climate Sceptic: As more of a handy resource for you than news, this website is very useful. We were talking a while ago about the need for more scientific knowledge when it comes to climate change. This website has all the annoying questions a climate sceptic could ask you and how to combat them: http://scienceblogs.com/illconsidered/2008/07/how_to_talk_to_a_sceptic.php