Climate News Round-Up | November 27 - December 10 2019

 Welcome to Climate Change Solutions for December 10!

COP25 kicked off in Madrid on December 2nd, and will continue until the 13th. Policy associate Anna McGinn represented EESI as an observer organization during the meetings. Check out some of her tweets from Madrid on EESI's twitter!

This year’s conference will focus on completing rules for implementing the Paris Agreement and preparing for COP26, where Paris Agreement parties will update their national climate targets.

Notable moments so far include:

• The Pope urged countries to lower emissions and “work together in building our common home.”
• Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi attended the meeting and assured world leaders that Congress would continue working towards lowering greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.
• Ambassador Marcia Bernicat, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs led the U.S. delegation. Although the U.S. has notified its intent to withdraw from the Agreement -- effective November 4, 2020 -- the U.S. says it will continue to participate in negotiations “to ensure a level playing field that protects U.S. interests.”
• Greta Thunberg led a 15,000 person climate march after criticizing international climate leadership during a COP25 panel of climate activists.

In other climate news:

• New reports indicate that climate change and pollution are dramatically lowering oxygen levels in the ocean and causing birds to shrink in size.
• The New York Supreme Court ruled in favor of ExxonMobil in a case the state brought against the oil company alleging ExxonMobil committed fraud by not disclosing risks from climate change to shareholders.
• Jane Fonda continued her weekly “Fire Drill Fridays” protests on in Washington D.C. After spending a night in jail, however, she is no longer risking arrest.
• Former Secretary of State John Kerry launched a bipartisan climate coalition, World War Zero, which aims to have hundreds of town hall meetings on climate change during the 2020 election cycle.
• Researchers are creating a framework to make musical performances more climate-friendly.
• The World Wildlife Foundation teamed up with the Museo del Prado to combine masterpieces with a climate change message.
• Elizabeth Warren unveils a "Blue New Deal" focused on ocean conservation and energy development as part of her 2020 presidential campaign.

 

Headlines:

COP25 Climate Change Conference - Questions and Answers, European Union

Pope to COP25: Do Not Close the Window of Opportunity, Vatican News

U.S. House Speaker Pelosi Says at Climate Summit: "We Are Still In", Reuters

U.S. Delegation to the 25th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, U.S. Department of State

Greta Thunberg: "People are Suffering and Dying from the Climate Emergency Today," El Pais

Climate Change: Oceans Running out of Oxygen as Temperatures Rise, BBC

Climate Change Could be Making Birds Shrink in Size, Study Finds, CNN

Exxon Wins New York Climate Change Fraud Case, NPR

Jane Fonda Leads 9th Climate Change Protest in Washington, D.C., UPI

John Kerry Launches Bipartisan Coalition to Combat Climate Change, NBC Boston

Climate Change: Plan to Cut Carbon Emissions from Concerts, BBC

See Four Spanish Masterpieces Updated to Reflect the Consequences of Climate Change, Smithsonian

Warren Proposes 'Blue New Deal' to Protect Oceans, The Hill