Further Cancun Update: Keep Talking About Kyoto Protocol and Set Up Green Climate Fund
The UNFCCC has just released its new negotiating texts. After going through it quickly, here are a few highlights:
(1) As far as I can tell, the COP has indeed kicked the Cancun down the road by agreeing that they "shall aim to complete" further commitments by rich countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions "as early as possible." They do include the saving phrase "and in time to ensure that there is no gap between the first and second commitment period." Translation: Additional cuts should be agreed to before 2012. The telling words are "shall aim to complete." No real promises here.
(2) The shared vision says that the parties set the goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions "so as to hold the increase in global average temperature below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels...." The parties will think about trying to hold average temperature increase to 1.5 later after further scientific review in 2015.
(3) The shared vision drops the earlier text that would have required that the world cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent and that developed countries cut their emissions by 80-95 percent by 2050. Instead, the parties will "work towards identifying a global goal for substantially reducing global emissions by 2050" and consider it at the next meeting in Durban.
(4) The shared vision also drops the proposal that global greenhouse gases should peak by 2015.
(5) The text also sets up a process for creating a system for accounting and monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions from developed countries. As far as I can tell from reading the rather opaque text, the U.S. has not been roped into a process that leads to legally binding emissions reduction commitments.
(6) China, India and other emerging countries also have not been roped into legally binding commitments, but if they take mitigation actions that are supported by outside money, those activities will be subject to some kind of international auditing. On the other, the world will have take their words for their domestically funded activities.
(7) The text also says that the parties decide to establish a Green Climate Fund under the authority of the Conference of the Parties with a board of directors consisting of 24 members, half of whom will be from rich countries and half from poor countries. The devloped country parties commit to "mobilizing jointly USD 100 billion per year by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries."
These are still negotiating texts and are probably the maximum that can be expected from the conference. The world now awaits the political spin.
Addendum: Bolivian ambassador Pablo Solon just denounced the draft text as a "Copenhagen Accord cut and paste." The COP process is that all decisions must be made by consensus. Solon wouldn't say if Bolivia would veto the agreement.
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I've got an idea, Let's ask some Danish fuck with no real scientific background what he thinks.
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Hi Max! Nice to see your pleasant cheerful disposition and insightful and informative comments!
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I don't know about a Dane, but I get to enjoy the insightful climate change views of Evo Morales, the president of the Plurinational State of Bolivia in a few minutes.
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So how much does it cost to *avoid* listening to him?
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Commies are instant experts in all matters climatic, economic and moral.
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I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General [from Pirates of Penzance]
I am the very model of a modern Major-General
I've information vegetable, animal, and mineral
I know the kings of England, and I quote the fights historical
From Marathon to Waterloo, in order categoricalI'm very well acquainted, too, with matters mathematical
I understand equations, both the simple and quadratical
About binomial theorem I'm teeming with a lot o' news
With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuseWith many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse
With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse
With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotepotenuseI'm very good at integral and differential calculus
I know the scientific names of beings animalculous
In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral
I am the very model of a modern Major-GeneralIn short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral
He is the very model of a modern Major-GeneralI know our mythic history, King Arthur's and Sir Caradoc's
I answer hard acrostics, I've a pretty taste for paradox
I quote in elegiacs all the crimes of Heliogabalus
In conics I can floor peculiarities parabolousI can tell undoubted Raphaels from Gerard Dows and Zoffanies
I know the croaking chorus from the Frogs of Aristophanes
Then I can hum a fugue of which I've heard the music's din afore
And whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsense PinaforeAnd whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsense Pinafore
And whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsense Pinafore
And whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsense PinapinaforeThen I can write a washing bill in Babylonic cuneiform
And tell you ev'ry detail of Caractacus's uniform
In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral
I am the very model of a modern Major-GeneralIn short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral
He is the very model of a modern Major-GeneralIn fact, when I know what is meant by "mamelon" and "ravelin"
When I can tell at sight a Mauser rifle from a javelin
When such affairs as sorties and surprises I'm more wary at
And when I know precisely what is meant by "commissariat"When I have learnt what progress has been made in modern gunnery
When I know more of tactics than a novice in a nunnery
In short, when I've a smattering of elemental strategy
You'll say a better Major-General had never sat a geeYou'll say a better Major-General had never sat a gee
You'll say a better Major-General had never sat a gee
You'll say a better Major-General had never sat a sat a geeFor my military knowledge, though I'm plucky and adventury
Has only been brought down to the beginning of the century
But still, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral
I am the very model of a modern Major-GeneralBut still, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral
He is the very model of a modern Major-General -
Yakko:
I am the very model of a cartoon individual
My animation's comical, unusual, and whimsical
I'm quite adept at funny gags, comedic theory I have read
From wicked puns, and stupid jokes, to anvils that drop on your headI'm very good at fancy dances, I can even pirouette
Then smack the villain with a fish; I know my cartoon etiquette
I can make my face all mean and really give you quite a fright
Then make up with flowers made of real exploding dynamiteWhen in a jam, I just yell "stop" and villians in their tracks are froze
Then I sneak up, and utter "start" and take my hands and honk their nose
I am quite proud to be in such a hierarchial progeny
From Daffy Duck and Tweety Bird to Babs and Buster BunnyTo suit my mood I can call forth a lot of different sceneries
Like outer space and desert scapes and Himalayan eateries
From this bag here why I can pull most anything imaginable
Like office desks and lava lights and Bert who is a cannibal
Yakko,Wakko and Dot:
You see in matters comical, unusual, and whimsical
We are the very model of cartoon individuals! -
Poverty keeps us pure!
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Why so angry?
If you are so sure of your position, and are arguing based on reason, why the emotional eruption?
You remind me of someone lashing out when challenged about their religious beliefs, or that statism is the cure for the world...but I repeat myself.
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Because that Dane has blown holes in Max's fantasies with facts; no brain-dead likes THAT!
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"China, India and other emerging countries also have not been roped into legally binding commitments,"
Ahh, so the very places where they make almost everything we buy nowadays don't have to play ball.
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Max: Please go enjoy your weekend.
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So get a science degree, asshole.
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Max: Like I said, enjoy your weekend.
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Max: Like I said, enjoy your weekend.
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You repeat yourself. Enjoy your weekend too, Ron.
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Weekend Glory
Some clichty folks
don't know the facts,
posin' and preenin'
and puttin' on acts,
stretchin' their backs.They move into condos
up over the ranks,
pawn their souls
to the local banks.
Buying big cars
they can't afford,
ridin' around town
actin' bored.If they want to learn how to live life right
they ought to study me on Saturday night.My job at the plant
ain't the biggest bet,
but I pay my bills
and stay out of debt.
I get my hair done
for my own self's sake,
so I don't have to pick
and I don't have to rake.Take the church money out
and head cross town
to my friend girl's house
where we plan our round.
We meet our men and go to a joint
where the music is blue
and to the point.Folks write about me.
They just can't see
how I work all week
at the factory.
Then get spruced up
and laugh and dance
And turn away from worry
with sassy glance.They accuse me of livin'
from day to day,
but who are they kiddin'?
So are they.My life ain't heaven
but it sure ain't hell.
I'm not on top
but I call it swell
if I'm able to work
and get paid right
and have the luck to be Black
on a Saturday night. -
Damn. Glad I penned that.
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Max, from the highly educated nature of your commentary we can only assume that you have and advanced degree in a scientific field. From what Ivy League or prestigious European institution did you earn your science degree? And what is your specialty?
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The text also says that the parties decide to establish a Green Climate Fund under the authority of the Conference of the Parties with a board of directors consisting of 24 members, half of whom will be from rich countries and half from poor countries. The devloped country parties commit to "mobilizing jointly USD 100 billion per year by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries."
Gee, that doesn't sound like wealth transfer or anything like that
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Gahhhhh!!!
I beginning to hate threaded comments
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Corduroy, I understand. They can be frustrating. A mistake I sometimes mistake is posting a comment at the bottom I intended as a reply to someone else. This looks like the opposite mistake. 'Sokay, don't feel bad. We have all done it.
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At least they don't have a committee of 535, like we do.
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How about some mention about how Cancun is currently experiencing record-low temperatures?
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I second the motion. The motion is now on the floor.
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Colin: I am too aware of those low temperatures.
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These are still negotiating texts and are probably the maximum that can be expected from the conference.
"Maximum", eh?
BTW, Ron, how are these UNFCCCers paid?
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Not bad.
Gridlock in Cancun to match the gridlock in DC.
Happy Holidays! -
Climate delegates sign petitions to ban water, derail US economy:
http://www.theblaze.com/storie.....s-economy/ -
99.4% of all murderers consumed DHMO in the 48 hour before they committed the murder!
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As far as government "solutions" go, this isn't all that bad. I mean, if wealthy nations had to donate 100 billion a year to developing nations, and those developing nations recognized that we want to know where that money goes, would that be the end of the world? It would probably be the least bothersome government action in history.
I know, I know, you're probably wondering about the mandates that we cut emissions. I don't think that any country will seriously be held accountable for such things. We could probably implement a net zero carbon tax, plus a small, additional carbon tax to raise revenue for some small amount of green tech research.
This is about as much as I'm willing to give to the watermelon agenda. Anything more drastic would have serious, negative effects. In fact, more serious proposals would probably never get past the planning stages since countries tend to agree on very little.
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"I mean, if wealthy nations had to donate 100 billion a year to developing nations, and those developing nations recognized that we want to know where that money goes, would that be the end of the world?"
The problem here is that "wealthy nations" probably = the US. Have you seen how "wealthy" the EU is after bailing out Greece and Ireland? And that's just the low-end start.
And you'll notice, if you want to look, which "wealthy nations" actually provide for any sort of defense. To save you the time, the EU simply free-rides on the US defense budget.
Any reason to think it'll be different here? I can't see any.
The saving grace is that the $100Bn is likely every bit as definitive as the "shall aim..." and "will think about trying..." clauses. -
Have you seen how "wealthy" the EU is after bailing out Greece and Ireland?
Wait until you see how "wealthy" the US is after it bails out CA, NJ, and so on.
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Lol, that's true, but I'm sure that the europeans will fell sufficiently obligated to donate their fair share to the fund. Am I really just being naive? I'm not saying that this is a great situation, just that it isn't the worst situation.
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If all they come up with are high sounding platitudes that are ultimately no more than diplo-drivel, but ultimately have no impact on anything whatsoever except for availability of airline seats and hotel rooms at the sites of further conferences on the planned dates for them, then I think that's about the best we can hope for out of this bunch of rent seeking chuckleheads.
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Of course, on the downside, the mere fact that they will continue to have further international conferences over what is ever more apparently over-hyped bullshit, instead of being tarred and feathered for the damage they've done to the overall credibility of science in general will no doubt be heralded as the general success (for them, not for the rest of humanity) that it actually is.
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Whatever, I've been drinking and the Benson Interruption is on.
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Can we simply ignore these eco-crazies from now on? I'd rather contribute to the next Ron Bailey's tropical vacation directly, without hearing about completely irrelevant international "agreements." Plus, Bailey wouldn't have to suffer from the Gore effect.
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The delegates agreed to meet again in another 5 star resort and spend lots of money enjoying the perks of appearing to confront the problem.
http://www.pathtoasia.com/jobs/ -
BORING
let's discuss the libertarian view of incest, when both are ADULTS:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/.....94864.htmlIf your not going to have kids, I'm ok with it. Its icky, but hey, people eat lima beans.
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While, I personally find it wrong, I agree that the state should not get involved. But a perhaps equally controversial idea that perhaps should be considered is this concept that was explored by the Oneida people. According to the "always reliable" Wikipedia : "Postmenopausal women were encouraged to introduce teenage males to sex, providing both with legitimate partners that rarely resulted in pregnancies. Furthermore, these women became religious role models for the young men. Likewise, older men often introduced young women to sex. Noyes often used his own judgment in determining the partnerships which would form and would often encourage relationships between the non-devout and the devout in the community, in the hopes that the attitudes and behaviors of the devout would influence the non-devout."
This could actually solve a great many problems. The only problem with it is that we still have some vestiges of puritanism in our society.
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Just to be clear I am not being serious.
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"Some" vestiges of puritanism?
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Isn't #7 a complete disaster? 100 billion a year direct wealth transfer from the people of the first world to the crooks of the third? Is this a deal where they dejectedly say it was a failure but actually did yoke us into a big screwover?
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Getting millions of dollars for your Swiss Bank account certainly isn't a "failure".
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Did we vote for any of these guys planning to spend 100 billion/year of our money?
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Well, a buncj of people voted for one of them - but he had a Christmas Party to get to, so he ducked out and left Bill Clinton in charge.