As IPSO yesterday officially warned the "world's ocean is at high risk of entering a phase of extinction of marine species unprecedented in human history" and the National Academy of Sciences announced the rise in the sea level along the US Atlantic Coast has surpassed 2000 year levels, former UNFCCC chief Yvo de Boer portrayed the international climate negotiations as "dead in the water."
At the conclusion last week of the Bonn Talks, UNFCCC executive secretary Christina Figueres called on political leaders to aggressively intervene in the climate crisis to unlock the gridlock between the rich and poor countries. While Figueres announced funding for an additional round of talks prior to next November 28 -December 9 COP17, she was clear that log-jammed negotiations have run out the clock for a possible ratification of Phase Two of the Kyoto Protocol prior to its 2012 sunset.
"There is a growing realization and acknowledgment that resolving the future of the Kyoto Protocol is essential this year and will require high level political guidance," Figueres said. Kyoto remains fundamental and critical, she said, because it "establishes the key rules to quantify and monitor the mitigation efforts of countries" and "contains the market-based mechanisms which allow countries to reach their mitigation levels at cost effective levels."
Bolivian Ambassador Pablo Solon suggested that while the talks in Germany were inundated with proposals for new market mechanisms, they were unable to tackle 'the elephant in the room': the failure of developed countries to commit to the deep emission cuts necessary to curb the rise in global temperature to below 2 degrees.
“All the reports show a problem of science and a problem of leadership. We need deep cuts and we need developed countries to take the lead,"Ambassador Solon said.
Speaking last week of the negotiating strategy of poor countries, Christian Aid's Mohamed Adow said he believes they continue to fall significantly short of requesting ample assistance in adapting to the climate crisis.
"They have to ask for a camel ... but will settle for a goat, he said."
Read DailyKos coverage of the Bonn Talks and all news in the run up to COP17 and Rio+20 @ Beyond Kyoto
Actions
• Start making your plans for September 24 Moving Planet, a worldwide rally "to demand solutions to the climate crisis—a single day to move away from fossil fuels.'
• Tell Obama you haven't forgotten his pledge to PutSolar on the Whitehouse! (a 350.org campaign)
• Help kickstart the DailyKos Climate Co-Lab Team in designing its entry in the 2011 contest: "How should the 21st century economy evolve, bearing in mind the risks of climate change?" @ MIT Climate Colab Proposal.