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U.N. Unveils its Carbon Footprint

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The U.N. has made public its own carbon emissions for a second year in a row. In a new report, the U.N. found that its carbon emissions for 2009 were 1.7 million tonnes CO2eq in total, and 8.3 tonnes CO2eq per staff capita. It reports that more than 50% of the GHGs emitted by the U.N. are from air travel alone. Alarmingly, the U.N.'s goal is to reduce its GHG emissions by a mere 3% per year from 2009-2012. The UNFCCC accounted for 1,363 tonnes of CO2eq, most of which was also from air travel. This is concerning, given the fact that, despite COP after COP, and one round of international negotiations after another, the UNFCCC still has no serious plan of action to actually reduce GHG levels and avoid a temperature rise of the earth's surface. The report recommends that in order for the U.N. to achieve 'carbon neutrality', it should budget to purchase offsets and carbon credits  under the Kyoto Protocol. In addition, sustainable procurement practices are recommend. These recommendations are unlikely to lead to its goal of carbon neutrality. The system of carbon credits and offsetting is in a dire state, with concerns over verification, fraudulent practices, and ongoing issues regarding the social injustices related to afforestation schemes, technology transfers, and land enclosures.  In addition to these problems with offsetting, is the broader problem of addressing climate change via ecological modernist solutions that ignore the underlying social relations that cause GHG emissions in the first place.

For more, please read the U.N report.

 

Short segment on Uganda’s Carbon Offset experience

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Check out this short news segment about carbon offsetting in Uganda. I'll let the tragic story in the three minute video speak for itself:

Related to this comes scathing criticism leveled by indigenous and policy research groups against the UN's support for the World Bank's promotion of carbon trading. In their words, the World Bank is playing "both sides of the climate crisis" by supporting the market-based scheme on one hand, and investing in fossil fuel companies on the other.

With such concerns mounting, it is no stretch that carbon trading schemes need to be studied intensely, something that universities with their multidisciplinary approach could assist with a great deal.

Indigenous Perspectives on Climate Change

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Beginning on April 21st and continuing until May 2nd, the UN's Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues has been meeting to discuss climate change, bio-cultural diversity and livelihoods from an indigenous perspective. This is the first session of the group since the historic passage of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples last year that only four countries -- including Canada -- voted against.

Indigenous communities are particularly vulnerable to climate change, due to the close association between their livelihoods and ecosystems that stand to be heavily impacted by changing climate patterns. This is especially true of the Canadian North, where rapid shifts are already being witnessed and the repercussions on the marginal Arctic economy could prove devastating.

At the opening ceremonies of the UN session, Bolivian President Evo Morales Ayma outlined a new set of ten commandments that could guide the over 3000 delegates as well as the world at large in developing a framework for an alternative future and a new model for living. As the first indigenous head of state with an indigenous perspective in the whole of the Americas, Evo has become an inspirational figure beyond Bolivia and South America, and has talked frequently about our relationship with the Earth.

Below is a brief version of his commandments (compiled on the Climate and Capitalism blog): Continue reading →

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