Global
‘Explain uncertainty’, IPCC review says
by Environmental Manager editor and journalist Deborah Nesbitt
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) had failed to adhere to guides on how to characterise the level of uncertainty around scientific findings in its 4th assessment report, a critical review of the body has found.
Indigenous carbon property rights
by Professor John Sheehan, Deputy Director, Asia-Pacific Centre for Complex Real Property Rights and Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Design Architecture and Building at University of Technology, Sydney
The commodification of forests to permit carbon sequestration and hence trading in the resultant carbon rights is examined as an emerging dispossession of customary and traditional owners’ rights and interests arising from the survival of native title. Indigenous property rights in biota are an important incident of native title, and the disregard of such ownership by national states when creating freestanding legal rights to carbon raises the twin issues of extinguishment, and liability for compensation.
US climate Bill highlights Aust’s lag
by Carbon Extra editor and journalist Deborah Nesbitt
The US Govt’s tabling of its proposed climate change legislation – the American Power Bill – highlights the Rudd govt’s lack of political will to take serious action on climate change, says ANU climate and law centre director Andrew McIntosh.
Govt bagged for ‘poor’ GHG reports
by Carbon Extra editor and journalist Deborah Nesbitt
In the muted language of bureaucracy, the Aust National Audit Office (ANAO) has criticised the Fed Govt for producing inconsistent and confusing reports on its GHG abatement programs.
‘Don’t let verification get in the way’
Aust could help break the impasse over a global climate change agreement by increasing its 2020 emissions reduction target to 15% on 2000 levels while volunteering to make even deeper cuts to Aust’s and Indonesia’s emissions, the ANU climate change institute’s Frank Jotzo told Carbon Extra.
CDM executive approves 32 Chinese wind farms, blocks six
* Approved wind farms to cut 11.3 million tonnes of CO2 by 2013
* Two Chinese wind farms mistakenly rejected at last meeting
* 12 projects rejected last week, worth 3.8 million CERs
* Board tries to extend CDM reach by deferring fees for poor
India, China resist calls to back climate pact
* Indian officials still considering Copenhagen Accord
* China unclear on “association”, urged by Washington
* South Africa, Brazil sign up after U.N. letter