Nairobi, 29 April 2009
- From his selection of a top-notch administrative
'green team' in January, to his announcement
in February of a stimulus package to jumpstart
clean energy and build a green economy,
US President Barack Obama has shown environmental
leadership in his first 100 days in office.
Significantly, his progressive
environmental policies have triggered global
optimism that governments might be able
to seal a climate change deal in Copenhagen
this December.
President Obama's administration
has taken bold steps to change the previous
administration's climate policies that were
not always favorable to the environment.
At UNEP's 25th Governing
Council Meeting in Nairobi in February,
the US also supported negotiations for a
new, legally-binding global mercury treaty.
Speaking at a forum at
Massachusetts Institute of Technology in
April, director of the White House Office
of Energy and Climate Change, Carol Browner
urged the U.S. Congress to pass an energy
bill to spur the development of renewable
energy while curbing the emissions that
contribute to global warming.
Crucially, the Obama
team recognizes that a Green New Deal and
Green Economy can be a vital component in
catalyzing a sustainable economic upturn.
Obama's $787bn stimulus package contains
significant levels of green investment –
well over $100bn by some estimates, including
billions for refitting existing buildings
to make them more energy efficiency, high-speed
rail lines and commuter transit and updating
the electric grid.
According to UNEP's
Global Green New Deal policy brief, these
three sectors - renewable energy, energy
efficient buildings and sustainable transport
- can play an important role in reviving
the global economy and boosting employment
while accelerating the fight against climate
change, environmental degradation and poverty.
All eyes are now on
the crucial UN climate convention meeting
in Copenhagen in December.As Secretary of
State Hilary Clinton pointed out at a Major
Economies Forum in Washington D.C on Monday,
developed and developing countries alike
must devote significant money and political
attention to climate change issues, if the
Copenhagen conference is to bear fruit.
+ More
Ban, Barroso: urge 'Seal
the Deal!'
Nairobi, 29 April 2009
- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
announced in Brussels last Thursday that
the UN is launching a worldwide climate
change campaign under the slogan 'Seal the
Deal!'
The campaign aims to
galvanize political will and public support
towards signing a new UN agreement on climate
change, and urges world leaders to act in
the best interest of their peoples and the
planet by sealing the climate deal.
Mr Ban urged the EU
to continue it's leading efforts to push
towards the signing of an efective climate
change agreement during the UN Climate Change
Conference in Copenhagen this December.
He said, "We count on the European
Union's continued and committed support
on this matter. In this regard I would like
to inform you that the UN has launched the
'Seal the Deal' campaign towards Copenhagen
in December."
In response, European
Commission (EC) President, José Manuel
Barroso pledged support.
"We have to seal
the deal…this is indeed our priority now
to Seal the Deal in Copenhagen and I want
to tell that we are going to work hand in
hand with the United Nations to make that
a great success for the future of our planet,"
said Barroso.
Last Monday, at the Fifth Summit of the
Americas in Port of Spain, Mr. Ban stressed
swift, equitable action on climate change.
"Bold, visionary
leadership is needed to seal a deal in Copenhagen…it
must be ambitious, effective and fair. It
must offer rich nations a way to cut emissions."
The campaign slogan
is "Seal the Deal! Power green growth.
Protect the planet".
Norway's Minister of
Environment Erik Solheim Named 2009 Champion
of the Earth
Erik Solheim, Norway's
Minister of Environment and Minister of
Development, has been named this year's
Champion of the Earth by UNEP for his policy
leadership in catalyzing his country's action
towards a low carbon society and paving
the way for Norway's membership as one of
the founders of the Climate Neutral Network.
