Saving the Paris Agreement: Rolling Stone

Bats killed by extreme heat in Australia

"How a team of U.S. diplomats helped salvage the global pact on climate change in the face of Trump’s denialism"

"Nevertheless, what went down in Katowice was a small but not imperceptible sign that maybe all hope is not lost. “The Paris Agreement could have died in Katowice,” says Li Shuo, head of Greenpeace-China. “Instead, it lives. The question now is, ‘Who will step up and show some ambition and political leadership?’ ”

The Guardian: The Guardian view on COP24: while climate talks continue, there is hope

"The first thing to say about the compromise struck at climate talks in Poland at the weekend is that it came as a relief. Ever since President Trump’s announcement in 2017 that the US would withdraw from the Paris agreement, the question has been whether the UN process could continue to work. Much like the communique that came out of the recent G20, the agreement on a set of rules to implement promises made in Paris shows that while multilateralism has been damaged, it is not dead. Flawed and inadequate though it is, the process that has developed since the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change was signed in Rio in 1992 is still the best hope we have of staving off the most terrifying impacts of global warming. 

The sticking point of carbon credits, with new demands from Brazil regarding the treatment of forests, was pushed back to next year. But the agreement on how governments will measure and report on emissions cuts is important. The dynamic that previously pitted developing against developed countries has significantly shifted."

Read The Guardian article 

See also

UN climate accord 'inadequate' and lacks urgency, experts warn

#summitinPoland #carbonprice #forests #greenhousegaspollution #climatedeniers #carbon #unitednationsclimatetalks

Video / The Guardian: David Attenborough: collapse of civilisation is on the horizon

"Naturalist tells leaders at UN climate summit that fate of world is in their hands.

The collapse of civilisation and the natural world is on the horizon, Sir David Attenborough has told the UN climate change summit in Poland.

The naturalist was chosen to represent the world’s people in addressing delegates of almost 200 nations who are in Katowice to negotiate how to turn pledges made in the 2015 Paris climate deal into reality."

Read The Guardian article 

Related: Coal, coal, coal and soaring emissions – as a Liberal, I have had enough

Related:  It is time for a green rebellion

Take Climate Action Messenger Bot

"Take Climate Action

We will only succeed in limiting climate change if everyone is involved. On 3 December, the United Nations will launch a new campaign- a Climate Action Messenger Bot (link opens Facebook Messenger) on the United Nations Facebook page during the UN Climate Conference COP24 in Katowice, Poland - to make it easier than ever before for people to learn what actions they can take to tackle climate change. Be part of a movement and show your support for urgent climate action! 

Every climate action that we take, no matter how insignificant it may seem, matters a lot when a lot of people do them. If many people take actions that will reduce emissions, it will add up. And it will send a message to leaders, in government and the private sector, that people want climate action, and are willing to take it."


Read the full press release about the campaign here.

Australian Government must heed Attenborough climate warning says Bandt

Australian Greens climate and energy spokesperson, Adam Bandt MP, says the Australian government must heed Sir David Attenborough’s warning that climate change is a threat to human civilisation.

Mr Bandt also called on the Australian government to avoid being a wrecker at the climate conference.

Attenborough’s warning came in the opening sessions of the UN global climate summit in Katowice, Poland. The representatives of the world’s countries are seeking agreement on the ‘rulebook’ that will implement the Paris Agreement to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees.