WGXC-90.7 FM

More Climate Conference coverage

Dec 06, 2011 12:06 am

WGXC correspondent Kelly Benjamin is in Durban, South Africa covering the United Nations Climate Change Conference there for WGXC. He reports: Thousands of Afrikans fed up with a lack of international action on the climate change crisis marched, sang, and danced today outside the UN climate talks at COP 17 in Durban today. Negotiators from 192 countries are struggling at the summit to come to agreements on how to lower global greenhouse gas emissions and help the most vulnerable countries of the world adapt to runaway climate change that is already occurring. Greenpeace International’s Executive Director Kumi Naidoo lashed out at the United States, until recently the world’s top polluter (the honor now goes to China), for refusing to ever ratify the Kyoto Protocol, the only legally binding instrument to cut carbon emissions. “Those who are not interested in saving lives, economies, and environments, like the US, must now stand aside and let those with the political will move forward” Naidoo said. The UN Climate Talks in Durban continue this week with activists and NGOs hoping for action on securing a second commitment of the Kyoto Protocol and creating a Green Climate Fund to aid poor countries adapt to climate change.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Maneka Ghandi, former Indian Minister of Environment and Forests and a current member of the Parliament of India."][/caption]A lot of gas

UN negotiators are in Durban, South Africa this week debating the complex issue of reducing the world’s CO2 emissions in order to slow down global climate change. Yet there is little discussion inside the UN talks of reducing another leading greenhouse gas: methane. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, Methane is over 20 times more effective in trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide over a 100-year period. Much of the world’s livestock including sheep and cattle generate methane as a by-product of digestion. On average, each dairy cow belches and farts out 500 litres of methane daily accounting for 16 percent of the world’s annual methane emissions. The 60 million methane tons that cattle generate annually is almost one fifth of all global methane emissions. Maneka Ghandi, former Indian Minister of Environment and Forests and a current member of the Parliament of India is in Durban asking UN officials why they are not considering switching to a vegan diet as a legitimate way to combat global warming. PLAY CLIP 6:26

Controversy around Greene Climate Fund
The United Nations climate change talks continued in Durban, South Africa today with civil society organizations and environmental activists ramping up pressure on UN delegates to come to a legitimate and binding treaty to address runaway climate change. Of particular concern for some countries is the the Green Climate Fund and how it will be implemented. Kelly Benjamin is at the climate talks in Durban and brings us this report. PLAY CLIP 3:44
Wave Farm / WGXC Acra Contact Info
info@wavefarm.org
info@wgxc.org
Mailing: PO Box 13 Acra, NY 12405
Main Office / Acra Studio
(518) 622-2598
WGXC Office
(518) 697-7400
WGXC Hudson Studio
(518) 828-0290
WGXC Feedback
(518) 212-7509 feedback@wgxc.org
Wave Farm / WGXC Acra Studio: 5662 Route 23 Acra, NY 12405
WGXC Hudson Studio: 369 Warren St. Hudson, NY 12534