writeaboutwarming

May 23, 2013 – China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has proposed a cap on greenhouse gas emissions produced by the world’s largest emitter.   Experts say the NDRC is extremely influential (would that the EPA could say the same!), and is now working with a government whose views regarding climate change have made a sudden and dramatic shift.   In order for the proposal to be adopted, it must be approved by the government’s cabinet, known as the State Council.   It would appear that is likely to happen.   Furthermore, the NDRC said it now expects China’s greenhouse gas emissions to peak in 2025, five years sooner than expected. This announcement has been received with great excitement, particularly by those who have struggled long and hard to bring about a global agreement regarding a reduction in emissions.   Doug Parr, Greenpeace’s chief scientist, acclaimed the NDRC’s proposal as a “big shift” capable of unblocking negotiations between...

April 22, 2013 – Climate change is forcing new international partnerships.   It’s funny, when we’ve run out of choices and find that the only option left is getting along, we not only do so - we find it works to everybody’s benefit.   While the first example might seem to be simply a business arrangement, I would argue there’s far more than money to be gained.   Chances are you’ve heard at least mutterings about the possibility of solar arrays being established in North Africa so that the resulting electricity can be sold, in part, to Europe.   In fact, European investors have gotten well past the muttering stage.   So have the North African countries interested in bringing their populations into the 21 st century.   Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia enjoy endless sunshine. It could ultimately reward them and their European backers with endless electricity.   Morocco and Tunisia are in the process of building plants, and Morocco o...