Climate SOS

The Discordant Accord

Five hours ago, more than a hundred world leaders were due to gather in a large hall on the outskirts of Copenhagen to sign a deal which would save the world.  We're still waiting.

The politicians promised Copenhagen would be the time and the place where countries across the world began a united fight against climate change.

Documents have been floated, ideas suggested and late on Friday, we obtained a copy of what we were told was the draft which might form the framework of a final agreement.

Reading through it and given the promises given and the expectations raised, it falls well short.  It is called the Copenhagen Accord and that may be the only thing that all the countries can agree on.

Peru: Is Global Warming a priority or not?

Alan Garcia will not be attending the Copenhagen meeting for global warming. Many here say he has more important things to do. On Tuesday I climbed the Ausangate glacier with a specialist from the area. He says that in 30 years these tropical glaciers and others will be gone.

It wouldn't be an enormous problem if entire communities did not depend on the water that comes down from the glaciers. They use it for their crops, mostly potatoes, and for their cattle.

What shocked me the most is that the indigenous people that have barely access to electricty knew about the meeting in Copenhagen. The told me "we hope they can help us build dams or other ways to save water for when the glacier is gone". It also surprised me that the pray to the mountain and call it "Apu". They know that their livelihood depends on the water coming down from there.

Faces of the Amazon - Day 9

At its heart, the story of the Brazilian Amazon is about the 21 million people who in some way or another call it home.

Everyday from December 7 through 18 - coinciding with the Copenhagen climate change summit – I am introducing you to a new person who lives in the Brazilian Amazon and whom I came across during my most recent reporting trip to the area.

This is the ninth installment of ‘Faces of the Amazon.’ To read the introductory blog post about this project, click here.

Walkouts? We're locked out

Goodness knows what's actually happening inside the Bella centre in Copenhagen. I have reports of course, but that's it.

I can tell you what's happening outside. Hundreds, perhaps more, newly-arrived, accredited delegates, campaigners and journalists crowded in the cold waiting to collect their passes to enter. Many have waited for hours, laden with laptop bags, satchels and briefcases, tempers sharpening.

My first taste of the chaos was at the airport, waiting for the COP 15 shuttle bus to whisk us to the conference in very good time.

A man turned up and warned us he'd been waiting in a queue at the Bella Centre for six hours this morning only to be told accreditation was temporarily closed. He told us not to bother trying. But we proceeded.

At the Bella Centre we were barred from even joining the throng for accreditation.