Blog
Search blog
Flexibility: Not Always A Good Thing
20 Oct 2015
Flexible mechanisms should not be so pliable that they undermine the already impoverished collective ambition of Parties. The Paris agreement needs to ensure that all Parties are decarbonising their economies and commit to the phase-in of 100% renewable energy by 2050. For this to be possible, any use of carbon markets must be supplemental to […]
Viva la Difference
20 Oct 2015
Many countries have been saying that differentiation needs to be inserted back into the text. And ECO agrees. How would we otherwise be able to reach a dynamic differentiation approach for the Paris agreement and unlock the needed ambition? During yesterday’s exercise, many countries—mostly developing countries—suggested that differentiation needs to be well represented in the […]
United In Faith On Climate Action
20 Oct 2015
The voices of many religions are amplifying the call to bring back real ambition to these climate negotiations. Today, a statement signed by 154 religious and spiritual leaders from 50 countries will be handed over to Christiana Figueres. The Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Brahma Kumari and Sikh leaders are asking governments to reach zero […]
ECO’s Recipe For Success
19 Oct 2015
While France is renowned for its mouth watering cuisine, the negotiating text for COP 21 will need major changes to avoid leaving a bad taste in everyone’s mouth. The co-chairs have brought from the kitchen an incomplete meal with bland elements of uncertain origin. Crucially, the entire non-paper lacks that key ingredient necessary to stay […]
UNFCCC Agrees: Country Size Equivalent Carbon Footprints Don’t Need Targets
19 Oct 2015
Well, not quite. But the co-chairs’ text removes any obligation for international aviation and shipping to set an emissions target. These sectors have CO2 emissions equal to the UK and Germany respectively. Moreover these sectors are set to grow by up to 300% by 2050, which would greatly undermine efforts to limit a temperature increase […]
INDCs and the Path to 2030
19 Oct 2015
With the majority, approximately 150, of climate plans now on the table, the time is ripe for a first assessment of these joint efforts. Morocco and the European Commission started a debate on the aggregate effort of the submitted proposals at their INDC Forum in Rabat. ECO feels that Paris is on track for meeting […]
Boldly Going Where No Party Has Gone Before
19 Oct 2015
There is a big gap between what countries have put forward, so far ,and what it will take to avoid runaway climate change. A new report—Fair Shares: A Civil Society Equity Review of INDCs—compares submissions with their fair share based on science and equity. It warns that we have just 10-15 years to achieve significant […]
Our Human Rights to Clean Air And Clean Water
19 Oct 2015
In September, more than 40 countries called for human rights to be included in the Paris Agreement. Human rights, gender equality and the issue of a just transition dominated the discussion in the negotiations on the preamble and Section C at the last ADP session in Bonn. Since this is a party-driven process, the co-chairs […]
Coal: A New Climate Solution?
19 Oct 2015
Burning coal is many things: it’s dirty, carbon intensive, expensive and, a massive threat to public health. It’s also not a solution to the climate crisis. This should be evident to anyone familiar with the warnings from the IPCC and IEA. The construction of coal plants will soon lock in emissions that will exceed 2°C […]
SAIREC: What does it take to spur the energy transition?
12 Oct 2015
Blog by Mareike Britten, Head of Global Campaign Coordination Climate Action Network International Disclaimer: This blog presents solely the views of the author and not of any affiliated organisations Here at SAIREC all speakers from the IRENA president, Adnan Amin to the Energy Minister of South Africa agree, that the future is powered by Renewable […]