Prism Webcast News

Coal’s Stock Down, Carbon Sinks’ Up

Sunday, June 14, 2009
Posted in Global Warming | Tagged Global Warming

Two news items last week regarding coal and carbon sinks are potentially hopeful signs for our planet’s climate–and could have a positive bearing on negotiations in Copenhagen this December, according to an op-ed by Senior Researcher Gary Gardner. A U.S. Geological Survey report suggests that economically extractable coal reserves in the U.S. could be substantially less abundant than was previously thought. Meanwhile, more is being learned about the potential of the world’s forests and farmlands to soak up atmospheric carbon. But will negotiators do the heavy lifting to leverage these developments into climate-friendly commitments and policies?

Read: OPINION: Two Developments Climate Negotiators Should Heed
New Worldwatch Report: Mitigating Climate Change Through Food and Land Use 

Expanded Coalitions Support U.S. Climate Bill

In an effort to broaden its base of support, the U.S. environmental community is reaching out to organizations not traditionally involved in climate or energy issues. Groups such as the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, MoveOn, and the NAACP are part of a growing coalition of social welfare, labor, religious, and healthcare organizations joining forces with the traditional environmental lobby, writes Staff Writer Ben Block.

Read: Expanded Coalitions Support U.S. Climate Bill

Climate Lingo: Word of the Week

Annex countries — Groups of nations (for example, Annex 1 or Annex B) with different obligations under international climate agreements. Under the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, Annex 1 countries include industrial countries and economies in transition that agreed to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels collectively. Annex 2 countries are industrial countries that committed to help developing countries by providing them with technology, financial assistance, and other resources. Annex B countries have assigned emission reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol. The category non-Annex 1 includes countries that are the most vulnerable to climate change. Some countries are included in more than one Annex.

Purchase: Climate Change Reference Guide and Glossary Now available for free download!