Paris climate deal 'close to finish line' but talks set to overrun

<> Paris climate deal 'close to finish line' but talks set to overrun - Governments trying to reach a climate change agreement in Paris have drawn "extremely close to the finish line" but will overrun into Saturday, according to the French foreign minister. Climate talks updates: Negotiations spill into overtime at United Nations summit Draft Paris Outcome Latest: Version 2, December 10 "Dangerous and Deadly" – Scientists Slam Paris Text Paris goes to overtime — Next draft of climate treaty due Saturday morning - Here are the positions of key countries on the most recent draft; compiled by ClimateChangeNews Pelosi Transcript of Press Conference with Members of Planned Congressional Delegation to Paris Climate Conference Inhofe Statement on Administration Officials Participation in COP21 Deal Senator Boxer's Message to the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris Readout of the President's Call with President Francois Hollande of France - President Obama spoke by phone with President Francois Hollande of France to discuss the status of the ongoing negotiations at the climate conference in Paris.

Why We Have to Act on Climate Now -- In One Chart

<> Why We Have to Act on Climate Now -- In One Chart –[from the White House] World leaders are in Paris this week in hopes of reaching an agreement to tackle the global threat of climate change. Why now?  -- see for yourself: Here's another way to look at it. . . John Kerry, Secretary of State: Remarks on COP21 and Action Beyond Paris Inhofe on COP-21 Agreement Watch COP21/CMP11 Llive or On-Demand

New Paris COP21 Draft Agreement

<> New Paris COP21 Draft Agreement - A new 29-page, Draft Paris Outcome Agreement -- Durban Platform for Enhanced Action, Adoption of a protocol, another legal instrument, or an agreed outcome with legal force under the Convention applicable to all Parties Paris Climate Change Conference website

Crunch Issues in Paris

<> Crunch Issues in Paris - Dan Bodansky is the Foundation Professor of Law and Faculty Co-Director of the Center for Law and Global Affairs at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University -- he is in Paris for the climate change negotiations and posted this summary for those who aren't following the details of the Paris negotiations closely. Paris Climate Change Conference website

Nearly 200 Nations Agree On Climate Change Draft Plan At Paris Summit

<> Nearly 200 Nations Agree On Climate Change Draft Plan At Paris Summit - Negotiators at COP21, the U.N. climate change conference in Paris, have settled on a rough blueprint for approaching the complex and contentious task of reining in emissions and reducing global warming. But many issues will need to be resolved by the summit's end this Friday. Draft agreement and draft decision – 48-page, December 5, Draft agreement and draft decision on workstreams 1 and 2 of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action UNFCCC Paris Climate Change Conference

New Draft Version 4 Text For COP21 Agreement

<> New Draft Version 4 Text For COP21 Agreement - COP21 officials have release a new 38-page, Version 4, draft agreement and draft decision on workstreams 1 and 2 of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action incorporating bridging proposals by the Co-facilitators  See additional drafts at COP21 website

Reagan, Bush ('41) memos reveal sharp contrast with today's GOP on climate and the environment

<> Reagan, Bush ('41) memos reveal sharp contrast with today's GOP on climate and the environment - The memos, stamped "confidential" and kept under wraps for years, portray a White House eager to assert U.S. leadership on climate change -- global warming will have "profound consequences," one document warns, and the United States "cannot wait" until all scientific questions are resolved before taking action.

House Votes to Block EPA Power-Plant Rules

<> House Votes to Block EPA Power-Plant Rules - The Republican-controlled House Tuesday approved a pair of measures blocking federal rules to cut power-plant emissions, a symbolic move aimed at sowing doubt about President Barack Obama's climate agenda while world leaders gather in Paris to forge an accord on the problem -- measures passed mainly on partyline votes of 242-180 & 235-188 – White House has already indicated it would veto similar measures passed in the Senate [S.J. Res. 23 and S.J. Res. 24 – resolutions identical to H.J. Res. 71 and H.J. Res. 72] A Win-Win-Win on Jobs, Energy, and the Environment - House Speaker Paul Ryan on the symbolic resolutions and H.R.8 -- a new energy vision for today's era of energy abundance that would replace outdated policies rooted in the old ideas of energy scarcity.  Smith Statement on Bills to Block EPA Regs Inhofe Praises the House Voting to Block the President's Carbon Mandates Upton Kicks Off Debate on Landmark Energy Bill H.R.8 White House Statement of Administration Policy Veto Warning On H.R.8 More details on H.R.8

Remarks by President Obama at the First Session of COP21

<> Remarks by President Obama at the First Session of COP21 - "Nearly 200 nations have assembled here this week -- a declaration that for all the challenges we face, the growing threat of climate change could define the contours of this century more dramatically than any other.  What should give us hope that this is a turning point, that this is the moment we finally determined we would save our planet, is the fact that our nations share a sense of urgency about this challenge and a growing realization that it is within our power to do something about it." White House Announces Additional Commitments to the American Business Act on Climate Pledge Press Conference by President Obama In Paris (today)

Obama Arrives In Paris For COP 21 / CMP 11 Climate Talks

<> Obama Arrives in Le Bourget for Climate Talks - Obama and Xi Meet in First Moments of Climate Change Conference -- President Obama and President Xi Jinping of China held a bilateral meeting ahead of the United Nations climate change conference in Le Bourget, near Paris, on Monday White House Press Call Briefing on the Paris Climate Change Summit U.S.-China Joint Statement on COP21 Readout of the President's Meeting with President Xi Jinping of China Remarks by President Obama and President Xi of China Before Bilateral Meeting FACT SHEET: Mission Innovation - Today, in Paris, President Obama, French President Hollande, and other world leaders will launch Mission Innovation, a landmark commitment to dramatically accelerate public and private global clean energy innovation -- 20 countries representing 80 percent of global clean energy research and development (R&D) budgets are committing to double their respective R&D investments over five years. Mission Innovation website McConnell: Obama takes his reckless energy plan to the United Nations

<> "The Eyes of the World are on Paris" - COP21 Opening Ceremony; The nations of the world gathered today in Paris to reach a new and universal climate change agreement, in the knowledge that they have already delivered an almost universal set of national responses to meet the long-term climate challenge before the conference even begins -- over 150 heads of state and government arrived at the conference venue -- the largest group of leaders ever to attend a UN event in a single day. Statements made during the Leaders Event at the Paris Climate Change Conference - COP 21 / CMP 11 Paris Climate Change Conference opens with unprecedented call by governments and businesses to end fossil fuel subsidies $248 USD million pledged to GEF climate fund for most vulnerable countries New $500 million initiative to boost large scale climate action in developing countries UN Secretary-General's Initiative Aims to Strengthen Climate Resilience of the World's Most Vulnerable Countries and People Government Leaders Endorse Forests as Key Climate Solution

EPA Pulls Registration for Dow's Enlist Duo Herbicide Citing High Toxicity Levels

<> EPA Pulls Registration for Dow's Enlist Duo Herbicide Citing High Toxicity Levels - U.S. EPA, responding to litigation, has announced it is revoking the registration of "Enlist Duo" -- approved by the agency just over a year ago, Enlist Duo is a toxic combination of glyphosate and 2,4-D that Dow AgroSciences created for use on the next generation of genetically engineered crops, designed to withstand being drenched with this potent herbicide cocktail. EPA Revokes Approval of Dow Chemical's Enlist Duo Herbicide - Wall Street Journal article EPA Registration of Enlist Duo website [should be updated soon]

UN report finds 90 per cent of disasters are weather-related

<> UN report finds 90 per cent of disasters are weather-related - A new report issued by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) shows that over the last 20 years, 90 per cent of major disasters have been caused by 6,457 recorded floods, storms, heatwaves, droughts and other weather-related events -- the report, entitled The Human Cost of Weather Related Disasters -- since 1995, 606,000 lives have been lost and 4.1 billion people have been injured, left homeless or in need of emergency assistance as a result of weather-related disasters Report: The Human Cost of Weather Related Disasters Extreme Weather Tied to Over 600,000 Deaths Over 2 Decades – Article from the New York Times

Alberta Announces Climate Leadership Plan

<> New Alberta climate-change plan includes carbon tax for individual Albertans, cap on oilsands emissions - Alberta's new climate-change plan, announced Nov 22, will introduce a carbon tax on every Albertan, phase out coal pollution and plants by 2030, set a greenhouse-gas-emissions cap on oilsands production and pump money back into the pockets of Albertans and businesses to help with the transition. Details: Alberta Climate Leadership Plan - News release, Premier Notley's speech, the Climate Change Advisory Panel's Report  Canada's Largest Oil-Producing Province Wants A Limit On Carbon Emissions Alberta Announces Historic Climate Commitment – Sierra Club Alberta to Limit Carbon Emissions from Tar Sands Sector – NRDC Alberta Shows Climate Leadership on Methane as Part of New Climate Plan – EDF Alberta climate plan allows for tar sands growth, export pipelines to proceed - Alberta's new climate action plan would still allow for the Energy East and TransMountain pipelines to proceed.

IEA Ministerial Statement on Energy and Climate Change

<> IEA Ministerial Statement on Energy and Climate Change - "We, the ministers with responsibility for energy attending the International Energy Agency (IEA) 2015 Ministerial meeting, recognize that a transformation of the world's energy system is essential and must be a uniting vision if our common climate change, development, economic, and energy security goals are to be achieved. . ." Energy ministers set course for new era at IEA EDF Welcomes IEA Ministerial Statement on Energy and Climate Change

Trans-Pacific Partnership Leaders Statement

<> Trans-Pacific Partnership Leaders Statement - "We, the Leaders of Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, United States, and Vietnam, met today to mark the conclusion of negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement. . ." Remarks by President Obama in Meeting on the Trans-Pacific Partnership

White House Issues Veto Warnings For Senate-Passed S.J.Res. 23 & 24

<> White House Issues Veto Warnings For Senate-Passed S.J.Res. 23 & 24 -  The White House has issued a Statement of Administrative Policy indicating the President would be advised to veto the resolutions for S.J.Res. 23 – Disapproving EPA Rule on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New, Modified, and Reconstructed Electric Utility Generating Units; and S.J.Res. 24 – Disapproving EPA Rule on Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Electric Utility Generating Units Statement: S.J.Res. 23 – Disapproving EPA Rule on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New, Modified, and Reconstructed Electric Utility Generating Units Statement: S.J.Res. 24 – Disapproving EPA Rule on Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Electric Utility Generating Units Senate Passes Bipartisan Measures to Overturn Obama Administration's Anti-Coal Regulations Senate Roll Call Vote on S.J.Res.23 – 52-46 Senate Roll Call Vote on S.J.Res.24 – 52-46 Earthjustice Statement on Senate Vote Against the Clean Power Plan BCSE Statement on Congressional Review Act Votes on the Clean Power Plan

Paris climate summit to be pared back, says France PM

<> Paris climate summit to be pared back, says France PM - The conference will be "reduced to the negotiation" with "concerts and festive events" likely to be called off in the wake of the country's worst ever terrorist attack Paris climate summit march in doubt after talks deadlock - French government proposes scaling down protest on 29 November amid security fears following terrorist attacks

France promises 'enhanced' COP21 security after terror attacks

<> France promises 'enhanced' COP21 security after terror attacks - Climate summit will go ahead but foreign minister Laurent Fabius indicates policing levels will be increased as a result of IS assault -- an estimated 40,000 delegates are expected to attend the Paris climate talks, which run from November 30-December 11, along with 127 heads of state. Paris Attacks Won't Deter Coming Climate Talks, Officials Say Gore suspends Paris climate concert during attacks Paris Climate Change Conference - November 2015

Coming to the Table: The Importance of a Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Climate Justice

<> Coming to the Table: The Importance of a Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Climate Justice - As the conversation about climate change has grown, a new emphasis on climate justice has emerged, focusing on the health impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities -- climate justice has become a high priority focus of the environmental justice movement. [links to the 2015 HHS Climate Justice Conference Report and other conference materials, including a video from the meeting]

Paris COP 21/CMP 11 Information Hub

<> Paris COP 21/CMP 11 Information Hub - The Paris 2015 UN climate change conference (30 November to 11 December) is where governments will reach a new and universal climate change agreement -- the information hub provides a quick access point to find out how to participate and to navigate through the many pieces of information and news that are available.