Eco online

A time to unite

Anyone who has attended meetings will know — the greater the number of people, the less chance there is of obtaining an outcome.
Therefore the outcome of Copenhagen should come as no surprise. Governments from wealthy countries know that voters are easily swayed by economic arguments. Poorer countries want more for their people. While we all [...]

Copenhagen: Wong meets with Australian youth delegation

Penelope Ward, reporting from Copenhagen

Excitement and nervous energy turned to frustration and angst as thousands waited outside the Bella Centre, with NGOs, IGOs, media and official party delegates all swarming around the centre to get to work. With the heads of state of 192 countries arriving this week, security has been tightened and any forms [...]

Denying climate change: it’s a question of morality

When faced with tragedy, atrocities or grief we humans, it appears, have a wonderful way of dealing with it. Denial.
In his book States of Denial, Knowing About Atrocities and Suffering, sociologist Stanley Cohen writes: “One common thread runs through many different stories of denial: people, organisations, governments or whole societies are presented with information that [...]

Local action starts as Copenhagen talks continue

The climate was on everybody’s mind as low clouds created hot and humid conditions on the Sunshine Coast today. But it wasn’t only local weather patterns being discussed. As the Copenhagen climate conference enters its second week, thousands of Australians took to the streets around the country for the 5th annual walk against warming.
On the [...]

Copenhagen: delegates urged to be visionary, courageous

Despite reports surfacing yesterday afternoon, Copenhagen time, of a “furious reaction” from developing nations over a leaked ’secret draft agreement’, there was hope on day 1 of the Copenhagen conference. Update: for a deeper and more thorough analysis of the leaked document – Bunkering down at Copenhagen.
Penelope Ward reports from Copenhagen

The first day of COP15 [...]

What Rudd and Wong should take to Copenhagen

By Ken Hickson
There’s a new emissions plan in the wind for Kevin Rudd and Penny Wong to take to Copenhagen.
A water-tight commitment to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions by 25 per cent by 2020 – much better than the pitiful 5 per cent – which will appeal to the Tony Abbott-led conservative (and sceptical) Coalition, [...]