Adaptation
Adaptation is a set of actions and policies designed to help communities prepare for and respond to unavoidable climate impacts. Read on for more on its role in the international climate talks.
News
News
UNEP Report to Show Climate Action Commitments (INDCs) Start to Close the Gap
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released its annual report on the rate of global progress in cutting greenhouse gas emissions at 3:30AM ET on Friday, November 6. So far, 156 countries have submitted climate action plans (also known as Intended Nationally Determined Contributions, or INDCs), covering almost 87 percent of global emissions. The UNEP Emissions Gap report is expected to indicate that the INDCs, combined with current global policies already in place, would result in substantial reductions of greenhouse gas emissions, moving the direction of the global economy significantly closer to the cost-optimal pathway for holding warming under 2˚C.
News
Loss and Damage
There are limits to adaptation. Some climate impacts are already exceeding the the abilities of affected populations to adapt, causing loss and damage. The question of how to address these losses and damages is a key issue in the international negotiation process.
News
Commitment Cycles and the Ratchet Mechanism
One of the big questions facing the negotiations is whether the agreement arrived at in 2015 should direct climate action for decades to come, and if so, how. This question has become starkly relevant as it is now clear that the recently submitted Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) will only direct global action for 10 years, and will only push global action part of the way towards the 2˚C pathway.
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Long-Term Goals
One big question for negotiations at COP21 is whether to develop a long–term global goal for climate action, and if so, what that goal might look like. While all the long-term goals aim to avoid catastrophic climate change, each one proposes a different way to get there. Navigate the maze here.
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Finance
The term “climate finance” refers to public and private mechanisms established to help fund countries in their efforts to reduce emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Read on for details of the Green Climate Fund–the current focus of this work–and other finance initiatives.
International, International Cooperation, News, Paris Agreement
Climate Finance at COP27
Background Climate finance will be center stage during November’s 27th UN Climate Change Conference …
Politics and Policy
The Technocratic Approach to Climate Change, Explained
The scope of the climate crisis and the growing impacts from a warming world …
Science
4th U.S. National Climate Assessment Vol. I: Notable Findings
Below are selected highlights and excerpts from Volume 1 of the 4th U.S. National …
Energy
The Fight to Put a Value on Rooftop Solar Power
Advancements in technology have enabled consumers to install solar panels on their roofs more cheaply than ever before. This presents utility companies—which have for decades monopolized the energy markets—with new challenges.
Archive
EU Nations Commit to Cut Emissions
EU Announcement Builds Momentum Toward Lima, Paris Early this morning, the European Union pledged to …
News
China and U.S. Enter Historic Accord on Climate Change
The new leadership from China is game changing event for international climate cooperation. The …
Archive
U.S.-China Climate Deal: Setting the Record Straight
Misleading Charges and How to Get the Story Right The surprise announcement of a …
Archive
India and Climate Policy
Narendra Modi, in his first year as Prime Minister of India, has charted a …
Archive
United States, India Forge New Climate and Energy Ties
Obama’s visit with Indian Prime Minister Modi results in clean energy agreement
Archive
Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs)
Introduction As of mid November 2015, 180 countries and counting have researched, developed and submitted …
Politics and Policy, U.S.
The Clean Power Plan Resource Guide
What is the Clean Power Plan and why does it matter?
News
Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC)
A central but often challenging tenet of international climate talks, CBDR–RC takes account of country contributions to climate change and ability to contribute to a global response. Read on for the basics.
COP 20
UNFCCC COP 20 Meeting in Peru
Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) are gathering in Lima, Peru to lay the foundation for the for the global climate deal that will be finalized in Paris next year.