Environment Doomed?

Joseph Doolen — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 07:54:38 GMT

With the end of COP17 in Durban, South Africa, have we left the next few generations to a future of famine, war, disease and starvation? Or did that happen long ago, and now we just need to ameliorate the situation?

Storified by Joseph Doolen · Tue, Dec 13 2011 23:54:38

Climate change: A deal in Durban | The Economist http://econ.st/thW83v
— Joseph Doolen · Tue, Dec 13 2011 17:34:53

Climate Talks Bring Modest Agreement: http://nyti.ms/sdfVz1
— Joseph Doolen · Tue, Dec 13 2011 17:29:28

"the deal was as much as could have been expected from Durban; perhaps a little more," according to the Economist. COP 17 parties could only agree to come up with a new greenhouse gas emissions mitigation program by 2015, which would only begin to be enforced in 2020. Cries of too little too late from India, Africa, environmental advocates, U. N. Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon and the Union of Concerned Scientists.

UCS Immediate Reaction on the Durban Climate Negotiations' Outcome | Union of Concerned Scientists: http://bit.ly/sZqyEy via @AddThis
— ThePurporters · Tue, Dec 13 2011 21:31:35

UN chief upbraids dithering nations over climate fund - News - Mail & Guardian Online http://mg.co.za/article/2011-12-08-un-chief-upbraids-dithering-nations-over-climate-fund via @mailandguardian
— Joseph Doolen · Tue, Dec 13 2011 17:36:27

Durban deal will not avert catastrophic climate change, say scientists http://gu.com/p/342pb/tw via @guardian
— Joseph Doolen · Tue, Dec 13 2011 17:35:23

The effects of climate change are real, and are already being felt, this year namely in the Horn of Africa . While no single event can be blamed on the greenhouse effect, the frequency of extreme weather events has been on the rise for years, and the public is taking note.

RT @pplayfair: Checkout this 2011 extreme weather event map. http://g.co/maps/83dtb let me know any other events I should add. #climate change
— Barry A. Martin · Tue, Dec 13 2011 21:31:35

Most Americans Link Bad Weather to Climate Change http://www.livescience.com/17446-americans-link-bad-weather-climate-change.html via @LiveScience
— Joseph Doolen · Tue, Dec 13 2011 21:31:35

New projection shows global food demand doubling by 2050 ...

Nov 21, 2011 ... New projection shows global food demand doubling by 2050. Increasing yield in poor countries could lower environmental...

In what Dr. Mutlu Ozdogan of the University of Wisconsin calls "enhancement of the hydrologic cycle," the storage of heat energy in the Eath's water supply makes for heavier precipitation in some areas, and less in others, many of which are arid environments to begin with. Arctic ice in the summer will soon be a thing of the past, at least until the next Ice Age, the arrival of which may also be expedited by climate change.

Coral bleaching due due Ocean temperature increase destroys the most fruitful of marine environments.

wxp (7) · Photo Surabhi

There is always hope for businesspeople. In South Africa, the private sector is taking a particularly optimistic view, if only to take advantage of the attention from the Durban talks.

BusinessDay - JOANNE YAWITCH: COP-17: Corporate SA at the ...

4 days ago ... JOANNE YAWITCH: COP-17: Corporate SA at the forefront of a new revolution. The transition to a low-carbon economy will t...

Durban Debacle

Joseph Doolen — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:54:07 GMT

The United Nations Conference on Climate Change wrapped up this weekend in Durban, South Africa. Doomed from the beginning, the agreements reached are better than nothing, but still an utter failure.

Storified by Joseph Doolen · Mon, Dec 12 2011 21:54:07

Canada's conservative government withdrew from the Kyoto protocol in Durban, thanks in part to the U.S. never having ratified the 1997 greenhouse gas emissions reduction treaty.

Canada out of Kyoto, conservatives rule North America #jprotrack http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xmnbkw_canada-won-t-confirm-kyoto-withdrawal_news via @dailymotionUSA
— Joseph Doolen · Mon, Dec 05 2011 22:26:55

Developing countries, the most at-risk of the member states when it comes to the effects of climate change, expressed distrust of the European Union's initial proposal last week. India outright rejects the measure, demanding Kyoto be enforced.

RT @reuters:Pessimism reigns at Durban, global South not buting what we are selling anymore #jprotrack http://reut.rs/tYVWEp
— Joseph Doolen · Mon, Dec 12 2011 12:18:52

@marianneenglish @nprnews Pessimism from global South warranted http://thepurporters.wordpress.com/2011/12/06/durban-climate-talks-strain-for-legitimacy/ #jprotrack
— Joseph Doolen · Tue, Dec 06 2011 10:17:58

While Inia, China and the U.S. have apparently agreed to cut emissions, the deal is much weaker than the Kyoto Accords, and has further delegitimized the United Nations annual climate talks, doing little to slow and prevent future environmental catastrophes.

Durban climate change: the agreement explained - Telegraph

1 day ago ... The world has just agreed an "historic" new climate change deal in Durban but what does it mean for you?

The World from Berlin: The Durban Climate Agreement 'Is Almost ...

13 hours ago ... The climate talks in Durban ended with an agreement to agree on a new agreement on emissions cuts in coming years. The...

Mixed signals? US, China and India agree to cut carbon emissions http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/climatechange/8949317/Durban-climate-change-conference-Big-three-of-US-China-and-India-agree-to-cut-carbon-emissions.html via @Telegraph #jprotrack
— Joseph Doolen · Mon, Dec 12 2011 18:06:30

Durban #climate change summit struggles to secure agreement http://gu.com/p/342tf/tw #COP17
— The Guardian · Sat, Dec 10 2011 12:42:14

The lack of U.S. participation and leadership in solving a problem it has historically contributed to more than any other nation, especially on a per person basis (tonnage of carbon dioxide per person). Foot dragging on implementation of dispersal of a $100 billion fund was also criticized. The Green Climate Fund is intended for those in need of aid due to lack of water and food due to climate change.

US Denounced for "Startling Level of Obstructionism and Defeatism" on UN Climate Talks Deal · democracynow

Who's really responsible for climate change,it's you - interactive map Good app for public ed! #jprotrack http://gu.com/p/33np7/tw via @guardian
— Joseph Doolen · Mon, Dec 12 2011 12:24:58

Five things to know about the Durban climate agreement - The ...

7 hours ago ... Five things to know about the global climate negotiations that concluded on Sunday.

Agreeing to a new, weaker "deal to get a deal" will not curb a 2 degree global increase in temperature deemed necessary to avoid serious consequences.

Durban climate conference agrees deal to do a deal – now comes ...

5 hours ago ... US warns negotiations will take years as UN celebrates breakthrough agreement .

#Hungerfact: Climate change expected to add 10-20% to world's hungry by 2050. #cop17 http://bit.ly/vWBjXe via @wfp
— Joseph Doolen · Mon, Dec 12 2011 18:17:57

@ThePurporters via @storify check out U.N. World Food Programme's catastrophic toll of #climatechange #jprotrack
— Joseph Doolen · Mon, Dec 12 2011 21:14:18

RT @oxfamamerica: The final verdict at #COP17 #climate talks: Negotiators narrowly avoided a collapse, agreeing to a bare minimum deal http://oxf.am/ocQ
— Joseph Doolen · Mon, Dec 12 2011 21:14:18

An expected disappointment, but at least there are still fighters out there:

Joseph Doolen · Storify

Environment Doomed?

Durban Debacle