climate-change

> Negotiations briefing by an insider (our own mole): “The US is arguing for 4 years ‘reflection’, and then restarting the negotiations. (Yet the IEA says we have to have emissions going down by 2017. Yech.) Our insider is depressed – says it feels like the whole negotiations are back where they were five years ago. The US is trying to trap China into being part of the Emission Trading Scheme, but everyone knows the US can’t deliver on their own involvement. China is willing, but doesn’t want to move ahead of the US.

Opening speech at the launch of the Climate Bonds Standard by co-founder, Nick Silver

Let me deal with each word in turn: Climate, Bonds and Standards

1. Climate.

Everyone seems to have forgotten about climate change – it’s dropped right down or even off the agenda. We have been distracted by rather serious problems elsewhere.

Climate Bond Standard released, open for business; Goal to Assure Integrity of Green Claims for Investors, Governments

LONDON TODAY – The Climate Bonds Initiative today released the final approved text of the prototype Climate Bond Standard. See http://standards.climatebonds.net/

Earlier this month two news items rocked me, and I'm still rocking.

The first was the US Government's CO2 Analysis Centre reporting that global emissions had grown 5.9% in the past year. That's the highest ever recorded; it was chilling news. A friend called to say he was going ahead with buying land in Canada for his kids; not an option for most people.

The Climate Bonds Standard and Certification Scheme will be formally launched in the London at 4pm on 24 November, 2011. The Scheme will provide assurance for investors about the low carbon integrity of bonds for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Speakers at the launch will be: