Climate Week and the G20

James Whatley, blogging for Oxfam, from NYC and Pittsburgh

Where next for Climate Change?

Climate Week has come and gone, the G20 Summit too, so what is there left to say?

First of all I need to tell you that I had half a mind just to leave this blog as it was. The timing of my last post seemed just about right and, in context, I felt it was suitable to end with too. However, on reflection, I felt as though it was missing something and that it didn't really communicate the fact that this blog is actually coming to an end.

My work here is done.
For now at least anyway...

Originally I had intended to seal it off and cast it into blogosphere as some kind of 'climate change time capsule', containing various snapshots of how things were at the end of Summer 2009, back when we had the chance to put things right.

But I have a sneaking suspicion that this won't be the last time I'll be working on a project like this and I'm hoping, over the next 18mths or so, I'll have the opportunity to attend the Climate Summit in Copenhagen (and more events like), and maybe, just maybe, see some real change take place.

It's a strange feeling of conflict I have at the moment.

On the one hand, Climate Week in New York was magnificent. I was able to spend time and meet with some amazing people who all had some truly eye-opening stories to share.

But on the other, the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh was much less exciting. It seemed like, after all the talk and demonstrations in NYC (mainly thanks to the awesome people at organisations like Avaaz and TckTckTck), nothing was actually said or done. The two things that I took away from the summit were a commitment to end fossil fuel subsidies (awesome) and a move to recognise the G20 as the formal replacement to the G8 (but still no real representatives from the poorest countries).

With the whole event over-shadowed by the sudden announcement of secret Iranian nuclear capabilities, everything else seemed to be cast by the wayside. Sad times. 

I'm hoping that this means, that come Copenhagen, when the Climate is the *only* thing on the agenda, with AOB all sorted out at G20, we might actually see some real change take place.

Until then, we wait.

And for now, this blog is at an end.


I've been James Whatley.
Thanks for reading.

 

The World Wildlife Fund Briefing

Quotes:

Brazilian President wants to reduce deforestation by 80% by 2020.
India is seeing massive investments in energy efficiency and solar energy. Aiming for a 20% increase in energy efficiency by 2016.

Myth: Developing Countries are not doing anything about Climate Change
Myth: Developing Countries don't want to talk about finance.

_______________________________________________________

FACT BOX - GREEN JOB POTENTIAL:
Source "A Global Green New Deal: A policy brief", UNEP, March 2009

ENERGY
About 2.3 million people have in recent years found jobs in the renewable energy industry, and projected investments of US$ 630 billion in 2030 would translate into at least 20 million additional jobs globally: 2.1 million in wind energy, 6.3 million in photovoltaic, and 12 million in biofuel-related agriculture and industry.

BUILDINGS
Investment in energy efficiency could generate 2 to 3.5 million new jobs in Europe and the USA alone. In Australia, a proposed US$ 3 billion green housing package over 4 years is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3.8 million tons a year while creating 160,000 new jobs in auditing and installation services.

TRANSPORT
In the US, a 10-years federal investment programme in new high-speed rail links could create 250,000 jobs. In Korea, US$ 7 billion to be in invested in mass transit and railways over the next three years is expected to create 138,000 jobs.


http://panda.org/media

Things we did today...

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Arriving at the Oxfam warehouse this morning we're told to 'kit up and move out'.

I'm sorry?

 What?

The G20Voice'rs are gathering near to the Summit for a press call/PR stunt to draw attention to the fact that -

'Every minute, 100 people fall into poverty'.

In this day, that should be not be happening. 

I'm writing this to you from the event, on my phone, so the content is brief. I'll have more later..

 But, the police were here, the press were here, the BBC were here..

Looks like the short term goal was knocked out of the park, as for the long term goal..
Well, let's wait and see.