Recently in Roadmap to Fighting Climate Change Category

I started Climate of Change 74 days prior to COP15, thus its URL: http://74days.GOsustainably.com. My commitment to myself was to spend an hour a day learning more about climate change and COP15. On many of those days, an hour turned to three or four; time flies when you decide to share your quest with the world through a blog. More than 74 blog entries tell the story, and there are less than 29, make that 28, hours 'til the conference begins.

This may be the most important meeting of our lives, and there are many ways we can make sure leaders know we want them to consider it so. Below, are a few options. Please let me know, if you have other suggestions to add! I'll see you in the virtual world, as we come together with one loud voice for a climate of change as we go sustainably into the future. (I couldn't help myself!)

Check out Google Earth's look at climate change.

Have a pressing question about climate change? Submit it now on the YouTube COP15 channel and be part of the televised CNN/YouTube debate on Dec 15.

The World Wants a Real Deal - Global Day of Action Millions of global citizens have already signed the TckTckTck pledge and are ready for leaders to sign a fair, ambitious and binding deal at the UNFCCC meeting in Copenhagen. At the mid-point of the climate negotiations on December 12, TckTckTck partners and supporters will unite in every corner of the world for the 'The World Wants a Real Deal'

Global Day of Action
Friday, December 11, 2009 - Sunday, December 13, 2009
5:00PM - 9:00PM
WORLD WIDE

The World Wants a Real Deal will target key decision-makers in Copenhagen through messaging events in the capitals of their home countries-- the US, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, India, Japan, South Africa, Brazil, Sweden, the UK, Denmark, and the Arab Region -- complemented by similar messaging events in other countries and thousands of candlelight vigils. People will rally at temporary message walls erected in major cities around the globe to write messages, post photos and sign their names to the call for a Real Deal--one that is fair, ambitious and binding. Then at dusk, these message walls will also be the site of candlelight vigils, uniting with thousands of other candlelight vigils of every scale across the world.

11 Dec - Vigils for Survival
Stand in hope and solidarity with climate victims and the climate vulnerable.
12 Dec - Candlelight Vigils and Message Walls
Sign you name and post a photo. Tell leaders that you are part of a global call for a Real Deal.
13 Dec - Bell Ringing
Sound off on the urgency for climate justice as faith communities around the world ring bells and sound ceremonial horns in support of a Real Deal.

Read the findings of the climate meetings held in Bangkok and Barcelona this autumn. (a.k.a.: the Report of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention on its seventh session, held in Bangkok from 28 September to 9 October 2009, and Barcelona from 2 to 6 November 2009.)

Take the Training for GHG Inventory Review Experts

The UNFCCC secretariat is organizing a training course for GHG Inventory review experts planned for February - April 2010. Experts who would like to participate need first to be nominated to the roster of experts by their national focal point. Applications are being accepted now.

Read about US President Obama joining the UN conference at crucial moment.


COP15 Navigator iPhone app will help you stay tuned with the conference and be part of the action.

According to CNN Money, The National Retail Federation (NRF) of the US estimated sales 2009 holiday sales will decline by 1% overall, compared to last year. (2008 holiday sales were down 3.4% over 2007.) In other words, this year's projected outcome appears to reflect that the economy (as gauged by holiday sales) is on the upswing.

Compare that news with The Financial Times September 21, 2009 front page article about the fall in industrial emissions in 2008:

"The recession has resulted in an unparalleled fall in greenhouse gas emissions, providing a unique opportunity to move the world away from high carbon growth, an International Energy Agency study has found. In the first big study of the impact of the recession on climate change, the IEA found that CO 2 emissions from burning fossil fuels had undergone a significant decline this year - further than in any year in the last 40. The fall will exceed the drop in the 1981 recession that followed the oil crisis."

Two ideas resound for me above the clash of these economic and environmental cymbals:

1) If we consume less, we have less carbon emissions, which may soften global climate catastrophe somewhat.

2) If we are to do better than survive global climate catastrophe, it will involve our changing the way we measure success. Metrics like the gross domestic product (GDP), being in the black and the consumer price index (CPI) will have to account for how much or how little carbon is emitted, natural resources used and toxins are released into air, water and land. Government subsidies and tax breaks will have to reward those efforts that regenerate and replenish the natural and human resources upon which we depend.

The White House announced today that US President Obama *will* attend COP15 (!!!!) and has created a Web site dedicated to the (most important meeting in human history,) the upcoming climate conference to begin in 10 days, in Copenhagen.

"Our generation's response to this challenge will be judged by history, for if we fail to meet it -- boldly, swiftly, and together -- we risk consigning future generations to an irreversible catastrophe."

-President Barack Obama, September 22, 2009

"Climate change is a clear and present danger to our world that demands immediate attention. The United States is fully engaged and ready to lead and determined to make up for lost time, both at home and abroad."

-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, April 27, 2009

Shouldn't we demand more?

UK Guardian reported today that the last of the world's industrialized nations has finally made a verbal commitment to create a legally binding treaty to cut emissions at Cop15, the Copenhagen Climate Conference:

"The move removes the biggest obstacle to a political deal at Copenhagen. America is the only major industrialized country that has yet to reveal its emissions reduction plan. The official did not give details on the stringency of the proposed cuts, but it is thought likely they would range from 14% to 20% from 2005 levels - still below those put forward by the EU and other industrialized countries."

US President Obama has still failed to commit to attend the conference along with leaders of Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom and other nations around the world. But today's announcement is nonetheless a significant step toward demonstrating the urgency of the situation. His campaign promise of a 14% reduction from 2005 carbon emissions levels by 2020, was followed by a house vote on a climate change bill last June, for a 17% reduction from 2005 levels by 2020 and a Senate bill with a proposed cut of 20%. Despite all this, the senate continues to drag its feet on the issue, saying an agreement before February is unlikely.

The United States full and visible commitment to finalizing an ambitious and binding treaty at COP15 is perceived as necessary for all world leaders to back the accord.

Do you want to experiment with your own life?

How lucky do you feel?

(Worth the full 9 minutes.)

The associate press reported that India and China's respective climate change envoys, Shyam Saran and Xie Zhenhua spoke at conference October 22 in New Delhi, under growing UN pressure to agree on emissions targets prior to COP15. Saran says an agreement would have to allow India to continue to develop economically.