Sierra Club Blog Posts
A Question for the Planet
Submitted by John Bennett on Wed, 2009-12-16 12:49
A question for the planet, 'Can a few thousand negotiators gathered here in Copenhagen get beyond all the distractions and hype and cut deal?'
Despite the impending arrival of President Obama there is no sense of "Yes We Can" around here. We're coming down to the last few days and the United States is still more concerned with business issues than a climate treaty. My own country continues to stand in the path of the future, more concerned with oil profits than protecting the global commons.
While I'm typing the plenary session is on the big screen. There's no space in the plenary room for observers. After 20 years of campaigning on climate change and 35 years campaigning on energy (they overlap, I'm not that old) I am merely an observer.
Merely an observer allowed to be around only at the pleasure of government. Governments define the issues. Governments set the rules. Governments ............. Read more »
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Videos of Civil Society Protests in Copenhagen
Submitted by Emily Rideout on Wed, 2009-12-16 11:35
I've just witnesed an intense protest here in Coepnhagen. The event was called Reclaim Power and was supposed to be a peaceful protest by civil society in response to being shut out of the negotiations, but it wasnt so peaceful. I'll write a more indepth post soon, but in the meantime check out the footage I got. I was right in the thick of things until the tear gas got going at which point I left.
... Read more »
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Hate mail
Submitted by Ben Liadsky on Tue, 2009-12-15 20:33
How interesting that with the onset of Copenhagen, hate mail at Sierra Club Canada has increased substantially.
We have been accused of having something to hide.
We have been accused of being part of the biggest hoax in human history - a.k.a. climate change.
We have been accused of being funded by Exxon Mobile.
We have even been called "Nazis" and "climate terrorists."
Possibily the strangest, one woman told us that our "ox had been gored." Now I'm not sure what that means, but it was all written in capitals so I'm assuming it was hate mail.
Ever the eternal diplomat, the consensus builder, the peace-maker, it is my natural inclination to seek to understand why someone would say these things and to find a way to work towards a common ground.... Read more »
Canada wins Fossil of the Day….Again + More Videos
Submitted by Emily Rideout on Tue, 2009-12-15 13:30
Below is the Climate Network Canada’s press release about our most recent fossil:... Read more »
Conference, Canada in Disarray as Second Week Begins
Submitted by Howie Chong on Tue, 2009-12-15 10:04
As Week Two began at the Copenhagen Climate Conference, confusion reigned as numbers exploded, positions entrenched and pressure mounted.
COP15 Stalls
Fresh from a weekend of an enormous peaceful climate march (where a minority, but sizable number of people were arrested) over the weekend, the conference talks continued to be stalled on key issues dividing rich and poor countries with two key issues of contension: whether or not to maintain keep or scrap the Kyoto Protocol after its 2012 expiry date; and how much industrialized countries should aid the developing world in financing the low-carbon transition.
... Read more »
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Breaking News in Copenhagen: Secret Cap-and-Trade Proposal Confirms That Canada Has No Intention of Meeting its 2020 GHG Targets
Submitted by Emily Rideout on Tue, 2009-12-15 03:59
Sierra Club has just learned (via Climate Action Network Canada) that the Harper government has plans to futher weaken its climate change targets and policies. The fact that this government wants to weaken one of the weakest targets in the world is shocking. Please spread this story far and wide, and call you're MP or PM Harper himself at 1-866-599-4999 (ask to leave a message for the PM or for Environment Minister Jim Prentice). A rapid response to this news at home will show the Harper government that Canadians are watching the actions of his negotiationg team.
Read the CBC article here
Watch the CBC National here
Read the response from Climate Action Network Canda below:... Read more »
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Yes Men Play Prank On Canadian Delegation, Canada Wins another Fossil, NGO Participation Restricted
Submitted by Emily Rideout on Mon, 2009-12-14 19:40
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More evidence to confirm what we knew already
Submitted by Geert de Cock on Mon, 2009-12-14 16:24
Strategizing on Sunday afternoon
Submitted by Geert de Cock on Sun, 2009-12-13 17:56
Just got back from spending an afternoon strategizing about next week with other members of the Climate Action Network International. Venue was a large classroom at Copenhagen University. We broke up into smaller groups to focus on 4 major issue areas: Mitigation targets for industrialised countries, adaptation, finance and legal matters.
One conclusion. We are nowhere near where we should be in terms of a moderately successful outcome for avoiding dangerous levels of climate change. The mitigation pledges of industrialised countries like Canada are nowhere near what the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change demands. Financial promises for financial aid remain below expectations and the promises that have been made so far are not really additional, i.e. 'normal' development aid will be redirected towards climate goals. Still a lot of work in the week ahead.... Read more »
A History Lesson
Submitted by Ben Liadsky on Sun, 2009-12-13 17:07
Last evening I attended a short candle light vigil here in Ottawa to demand action on climate change. Approximately 70 people turned out to hear speakers demand climate justice, watch dancing polar bears, and sing along to some slightly altered, climate change-themed Christmas hits such as Jingle Bells and Deck the Halls (Click here to see pictures). Thankfully, the weather was a respectable -5 degrees.
In fact, 401 similar events were held across Canada as part of the December 12th international day of climate action. Around the world, over 3000 events were held in over 130 different countries to demand a climate deal at the Copenhagen conference. According to Avaaz.org, Canada had the highest number of actions per capita and the second highest overall total behind the U.S.... Read more »
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