Durban disappointment

Equity or nothing at UN climate talks. Still valid. And Obama knows what this is about. And the importance. He has Stephen Chu on staff. That guy reads books. He didn't get elected by oil companies. They supported Old Man and Alaska Crazy Lady. We have Obama in office now. And this is the best we can get? The US, once again blocking progress at the international climate talks? Continuing to refuse to set targets and timetables? Jonathan Pershing used to work at World Resources Institute, but he is a "realist" as EcoEquity says. What is so realistic about resigning ourselves to a fiery future? Does the climate of Venus sound appealing to you?

American negotiators in Durban: Drop all your pre-conceptions about what is "realistic" and what Eric Cantor will say yes to. Contraction & Convergence is the only way forward. Per capita equity is the goal. Obama can push for a Cap & Dividend climate bill that allows him to sign a future climate treaty without 66 Senators. Bohner's grandchildren will thank you in 20 years.

Thank you Occupiers and 350.org folks for being vocal when we need you most.

An International Climate Framework with Cap, Share & Dividend

The UN needs an equity framework to bring countries together. The best approach is Contraction & Convergence, which sets a future date to converge to global per capita equity in GHG emissions. It can be implemented with Cap & Share www.capandshare.org, where people in 1st World countries must buy the 3rd World's extra permits. This money flow will help the 3rd World leapfrog dirty coal and finance sustainable development. In the meantime, the US should implement its own domestic program that caps total emissions and returns the proceeds from an escalating carbon price back to the people: Cap & Dividend. Please ask your Senator to support the Cantwell-Collins CLEAR Act www.supportclearact.com.

Countdown to Copenhagen

I got this countdown clock at the UNFCCC website. The successor to the Kyoto Protocol will be negotiated in Copenhagen next year, and will probably set the rules until 2020 or so. If the rules are wrong, then we'll have another wasted decade of not dealing with climate change, digging ourselves in deeper, and possibly dooming much of the planet. (hey, are there any good reality shows on TV?)