Climate politics
Rio+20 Business Focus: Including cities and local governments in international negotiations
Anke Stoffregen, from ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability explains how cities and local governments will be key players in a world increasingly marked by urbanisation and the need to harenss their power and engage them in policy making.
Rio+20: Leaders round on summit process as frustration grows
Senior figures from business, economics and diplomacy including Jeffrey Sachs and Christiana Figueres criticise rate of progress.
Rio+20: UN chief tells nations ‘not to waste opportunity’ at sustainable development summit
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon warns delegates at Sustainable Development summit that this represents last chance to save environment
Rio+20: Draft outcome on sustainable development signed-off
Troubled negotiations end but many unsatisfied with watered down proposals.
Zammit Cutajar: Rio+20 is just one step on the long march from Stockholm
In a column for RTCC former UNFCCC Executive Secretary Michael Zammit Cutajar argues that the fight against poverty must be paramount in policymakers’ minds at Rio+20
Greenpeace: “Polluters are in charge at Rio+20”
NGO’s political director slams compromise agreement proposed by Brazil as an abject failure being steered by the interests of multinationals.
Rio+20: WWF and Greenpeace slam new draft text on sustainable development
WWF says energy section of latest proposal “could have been written by the oil and gas industry”.
Rio+20: Talks survive scare as developing countries threaten walkout
G77+China group issued ultimatum over finance and fossil fuel subsidies on Thursday but back at the table today.
Rio+20: Usual suspects holding up the talks says Seychelles Ambassador
Big polluters and industrial interests blocking progress says Seychelles ambassador to the US.
Rio+20: We’re all developing countries now says Oxfam researcher
Countries can’t consider themselves developed until they maintain high quality of life without detrimental effects on resources and the environment.
Rio+20: It’s time for developing countries to step up, says Italy’s Minister of Environment
Italian Environment Minister tells RTCC that Rio+20 should change the format of discussions surrounding sustainable development and calls on the emerging economies to accept responsibility for common objectives.
Rio+20: Will we get the ‘Future We Want’?
As the final round of negotiations leading to the Rio+20 Summit begin, countries remain at odds over key issues of the draft text.
The time to act for “sustainable growth with equity” is now, says Indonesian President ahead of Rio+20
Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of Indonesia offers a clear call for action for every country, business and individual ahead of the Rio+20 Earth Summit.
Brazilian diplomat: Rio+20 can open new path to sustainable development
Country’s ambassador to the UK says summit can overcome high expectations and mimic the impact that the original Earth Summit had on Brazil.
New Kyoto climate change targets proposed for rich countries
Submission by the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) would more than double the EU target and set Australia a goal to cut CO2 by 7%.
Kyoto lifeline as Figueres announces extra UN climate talks in Bangkok
UN climate talks chief Christiana Figueres has announced she has secured funding for an extra round of talks to be held in Bangkok, running from August 30 to September 5.
Tempers flare at Rio+20 negotiations as Ban Ki-moon urges progress
Co-chairs call for calm as diplomats lose cool during last pre-Rio talks on sustainable development agenda.
Bonn 2012: German Youth – ‘Don’t forget you are doing this for your children’
As the Bonn Climate Talks end, Anton Jaekel a Germany member of the UNFCCC Youth Constituency writes for RTCC urging delegates to remember why they are working towards halting climate change.
Bonn 2012: UK youth say negotiators must ensure intergenerational equity
As the Climate Talks come to a close in Bonn, Louisa Casson from the UKYCC and member of the YOUNGO constituency of the UNFCCC writes for RTCC reflecting on the talks and calling on parties to step up to their responsibility.
Bonn 2012: What did the latest round of UN climate change talks achieve?
RTCC analyses what has been achieved at the 2012 UNFCCC Bonn Climate Conference