The two weeks of talks, which began at the start of the week, are billed as the most important U.N. conference since the Paris 2015 agreement on climate change. The challenge is to meet a year-end deadline to agree a rule book to limit global warming, when the unity that underpinned the Paris talks has fragmented. U.S. President Donald Trump repeated his call to scrap the Paris climate pact. By the end of Saturday, negotiators aim to have a simplified a draft for high-level ministerial debate starting on Monday. "We still have a lot to do," Michal Kurtyka, the Polish president of the U.N. talks, told a news conference. "It is very technical, very complex, very difficult." Delegates said a major issue was how to reassure developing countries that richer nations would deliver on promises to help finance the cost of shifting to a lower carbon economy. Environmental campaigners are concerned the Katowice talks will lack ambition, after the United States said this year it was withdrawing … [Read more...] about UN climate negotiators sweat over detail and divides
Climate change protesters
Thousands march for climate in Paris despite “yellow vest” unrest
Up to 25,000 people marched through Paris on Saturday (Dec 8) urging greater action on climate change, despite fears that their protest would be scuppered by "yellow vest" demonstrations. People hold a banner reading "the forest resists" as they take part in a march against climate change, in Paris, on Dec 8, 2018. (Photo: AFP/Jacques Demarthon) Police estimated the number of green activists heading onto the streets at 17,000 while organisers counted 25,000 urging world governments to better protect the environment. The numbers were similar to previous climate marches in Paris, despite sporadic violence in the city on Saturday among thousands of "yellow vest" demonstrators who want more help for France's poor. Organisers had to change the route of the climate march, marching instead from Place de la Nation to Place de la Republique, due to the yellow vest demonstrations, but refused a request by Interior Minister Christophe Castaner to postpone it. "It was unthinkable to … [Read more...] about Thousands march for climate in Paris despite “yellow vest” unrest
French police clash with ‘yellow vest’ protesters in Paris
By Reuters  December 8, 2018 | 09:46 pm GMT+7 French riot police fired tear gas and clashed with “yellow vest” protesters in central Paris on Saturday during the latest in a wave of demonstrations. French riot police fired tear gas and clashed with “yellow vest” protesters in central Paris on Saturday. This is the latest in a wave of demonstrations against the high cost of living that have shaken President Emmanuel Macron’s authority. Authorities said 575 people had been searched and briefly arrested and 361 people of them remained in custody after police found potential weapons such as hammers, baseball bats and metal petanque balls on them. Hundreds of protesters were milling around the Arc de Triomphe monument, which was defaced with anti-Macron graffiti last Saturday, when rioters also torched dozens of cars and looted shops in the worst rioting in Paris since May 1968. A police spokeswoman told reporters there were about 1,500 … [Read more...] about French police clash with ‘yellow vest’ protesters in Paris
‘Yellow vest’ protesters knock wind out of French business, economy
Speaking after a meeting with industry groups and business federations affected by the protest movement, Le Maire said sector revenues had been hit by between 15 and 50 percent. While not providing a precise breakdown, Le Maire said small retailers had seen a fall in revenue of between 20 and 40 percent, and the hotel industry was seeing reservations down 15 to 25 percent. Restaurants, depending on their location, had seen takings collapse by between 20 and 50 percent. "The impact is severe and ongoing," Le Maire said, emphasizing it was nationwide, although Paris, after riots and looting in some of its most upmarket districts on Saturday afternoon and evening, was particularly affected. The movement began on Nov. 17 as a social-media-planned protest against fuel-tax rises, but has since morphed into an anti-Macron uprising. The ministry was not able to say what sort of impact the unrest would have on gross domestic product, but having hoped for a pick-up in the fourth quarter on the … [Read more...] about ‘Yellow vest’ protesters knock wind out of French business, economy
Rapid, unprecedented change needed to halt global warming
Rapid, unprecedented change needed to halt global warming - U.N.The Saigon Times Daily People take part in protests ahead of the upcoming G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany July 2, 2017. Placard reads "Global Warming is NOT a Myth" – PHOTO: REUTERS LONDON/INCHEON (REUTERS) - Keeping the Earth’s temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius means making rapid, unprecedented changes in the way people use energy to eat, travel and live or we risk even more extreme weather and loss of species, a U.N. report said on Monday. Meeting 1.5C (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, rather than the 2C target agreed at global climate talks in Paris in 2015, would have “clear benefits to people and natural ecosystems,” the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said on Monday. Without real change, the world is not even on course to reach the 2C target, experts said. U.N. World Meteorological Organization (WMO) secretary-general Petteri … [Read more...] about Rapid, unprecedented change needed to halt global warming
Global climate protests peak in San Francisco
A climate protest rolling across the world's time zones on Saturday (Sep 8) peaked in San Francisco, where thousands marched in a bid to shame political leader into stepping up action on global warming. Crowds march in San Francisco during the "Rise For Climate" global action on Sep 8, 2018. (Photo: AFP/Amy Osborne) In a festive, sun-soaked atmosphere, demonstrators from across the state and country set out from the city's Embarcadero Plaza beating drums and carrying handmade banners and posters. The dominant message was two-fold: speed up transition to a world powered by renewable energy rather than planet-warming fossil fuels, and protect the people most vulnerable to climate-addled weather, including droughts, heatwaves and superstorms. Several slogans were barbs from the heart of Blue America pointed at Washington. "Alternative Energy, not Alternative Facts," read one, while another - more blunt - said: "More Science, Less Bullshit." "Defend democracy: impeach Putin's … [Read more...] about Global climate protests peak in San Francisco
US accused of blocking UN climate talks amid protests
An environmental activist wearing a face mask depicting US President Donald Trump takes part in a Bangkok demonstration AFP/Lillian SUWANRUMPHA The United States, despite withdrawing from a landmark accord aimed at curbing climate change, is stonewalling vital UN talks over how to fund poorer nations as they battle against global warming, sources told AFP Saturday (Sep 8). US President Donald Trump caused global outrage by withdrawing from the Paris Accord last year but his country is still committed to the deal's roadmap, giving Washington leverage over the Bangkok conference. The issue of how funds are made available to developing nations has emerged as a key sticking point at the talks, which have made little headway since they opened on Tuesday. The Paris deal - hailed as a game-changer when struck in 2015 - promised US$100 billion annually from 2020 to poor nations already coping with floods, heatwaves and rising sea levels exacerbated by climate change. But it left room for … [Read more...] about US accused of blocking UN climate talks amid protests
Bangkok climate conference sounds alarm ahead of UN summit
Time is running out to save the Paris Agreement, UN climate experts warned on Tuesday (Sep 4) at a key Bangkok meeting, as rich nations were accused of shirking their responsibility for environmental damage. The Paris Agreement has promised poor nations US$100 billion annually from 2020 to cope with the impacts of climate change. (Photo: AFP/Nicolas Asfouri) The six-day UN conference opened with an urgent plea from delegates to finalise a "rule book" governing the Paris Agreement, the most ambitious global pact yet, to address the impacts of climate change. The rule book will have guidelines for the treaty's 197 signatories on how to provide support to developing countries worst affected, and manage the impact of climate change. If nations cannot reach an agreement by a December summit in Poland - known as COP24 - the Paris Agreement, carved out in 2015, will be at risk. "The credibility of the process... is at stake," Michal Kurtyka, president designate of COP24, said at the … [Read more...] about Bangkok climate conference sounds alarm ahead of UN summit
VFF leader congratulates Catholics, Protestants on Easter
President of the VFF Central Committee Tran Thanh Man (centre, left) extends Easter greetings to Catholic and Protestant dignitaries and followers in Hanoi on a visit to the Hanoi Archdiocese and the Evangelical Church of Vietnam on April 3. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Tran Thanh Man extended Easter greetings to Catholic and Protestant dignitaries and followers in Hanoi while visiting the Hanoi Archdiocese and the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (North) on April 3. In a meeting with Archbishop of the Hanoi Archdiocese Cardinal Pierre Nguyen Van Nhon, Man highlighted the country’s outstanding achievements of socio-economic development and major activities in the front work in 2017, saying that Catholics nationwide have made great contributions to attainments. He expressed his belief that Cardinal Pierre Nguyen Van Nhon will encourage Catholic dignitaries and followers in the Hanoi Archdiocese to … [Read more...] about VFF leader congratulates Catholics, Protestants on Easter
Banks, companies turn against coal as leaders seek cash for climate
Two years to the day since 195 nations sealed the Paris Agreement to avert worst-case-scenario climate change, the World Bank said it would stop financing oil and gas exploration and extraction - about two per cent of its portfolio now - from 2019.On the sidelines of a summit of some 60 leaders called by French President Emmanuel Macron, French insurer Axa said it would speed up its carbon sector divestment, pulling €2.5 billion (US$2.9 billion) from companies which derive more than 30 per cent of their revenues from coal.Dutch bank ING said it would have "close to zero exposure" to coal power generation by 2025, and a group of more than 200 global investors, including banking giant HSBC, launched a campaign to pressurise the world's largest corporate greenhouse gas emitters - including BP, Airbus, Volkswagen, and Glencore - to go greener.Summit participants, meanwhile, warned that … [Read more...] about Banks, companies turn against coal as leaders seek cash for climate