International Climate Negotiations

Latin American Civil Society Organizations back Peru’s bid to host COP20

Latin American civil society organizations are backing Peru’s bid to host COP20 in 2014. The launch of the joint declaration coincides with a pending decision about who will host COP20 at the latest meeting of the UNFCCC currently underway in Bonn, Germany.

June 5, 2013 | More on International Climate Negotiations | COP20, Peru, UNFCCC | Comment

The benefits of a hybrid

Andrés Pirazzoli

Compared to 2013, the world in 1990 was a simpler place to design a global climate change regime. Countries were either part of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) or not. This divide was reflected in the two primary groups of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): Annex 1 for developed countries and Non-Annex 1 for developing countries. These annexes reflect the different types of commitments for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by developed countries and how they are meant to support developing countries to act.

May 24, 2013 | More on International Climate Negotiations | COP15, COP21, Kyoto, UNFCCC | Comment

A New “Why” for Climate Action

Monica Araya

The world needs a new “why” for climate action. Unless the public embraces a vision for climate action that is consistent with their notions of prosperity, politicians will not challenge the status quo inside their governments and political parties. Latin American countries need a new “why” for climate action; and nowhere is this potential for reframing political storytelling on climate action greater than in middle-income developing countries. The public is worried about climate change. But is it asking politicians to commit to bold climate action at home? Not yet.

ADP 2 closing press briefing by Christiana Figueres

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May 5, 2013 | More on International Climate Negotiations, video, youtube | UNFCCC | Comment

A Few Thoughts On Earth Day

Ricardo Lagos Escobar

April 22, 2013 | More on Climate Justice & Equity, International Climate Negotiations | Chile, Emissions, Per Capita Emissions, UNFCCC | Comment

Beyond the Climate Impasse: How the Major Economies Forum Can Lead the Way

Timmons Roberts

During George W. Bush’s administration, the government was under pressure to act on climate change, but saw the U.N. as a dead end for negotiations. Instead of the cumbersome talks with almost 200 countries at the table, the Bush administration favored “minilateral” or “plurilateral” solutions with small groups of countries.

April 11, 2013 | More on International Climate Negotiations | Brazil, China, Mexico, USA | Comment

Death of Hugo Chávez gives Venezuela a choice on climate change

Guy Edwards

By Guy Edwards and Susanna Mage

Regardless of one’s position on el Comandante Hugo Chávez, the death of the Venezuelan president opens the door for a policy debate on a critical issue for Venezuela and the world’s security: climate change. As the 2015 deadline to create a new global treaty on climate change approaches, the question for the oil-rich country looms: will Venezuela be a key architect of an ambitious and equitable deal, or will it sabotage progress?

Peru and Venezuela compete to host COP20 in 2014

Guy Edwards

Next year a Latin American and the Caribbean country will host the annual UN climate change negotiations or ‘COP20’ of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Rumours are circulating that Peru and Venezuela are interested in hosting COP20. As the 2015 deadline to create a new global climate change treaty looms closer, Peru appears to be the stronger candidate.

February 13, 2013 | More on International Climate Negotiations, Key Posts | AILAC, Cartagena-Dialogue, COP15, COP16, COP17, COP18, COP20, Mexico, Peru, UNFCCC, Venezuela | Comment

The Politics of Climate Change in Latin America: Leaders and Laggards

Guy Edwards

Yesterday, I spoke at an Anglo-Ecuadorian Society event at the Casa Ecuatoriana in London on Latin America and climate change. Latin America is a key battleground and laboratory for confronting climate change and decisions taken in Latin American capitals and by their negotiators at the UN climate change talks could have major implications for the UN climate regime and the region’s development options this century. Here are a few extracts from the talk.