COP-17

Durban, South Africa: December 9, 2011

Ambitious or inadequate? Twenty four hours remains to secure Durban’s credibility

by Andrea Palframan, Watershed Sentinel

Durban, South Africa: December 8 2011

by Andrea Palframan, Watershed Sentinel

At 12:15pm today, after a press conference hosted by Global Justice Ecology Project, a  panelist dressed as a clown was de-badged and removed from the UNFCCC negotiations.

Durban, South Africa: December 7 2011

by Andrea Palframan, Watershed Sentinel

A mid-day disruption of the high-level negotiations at the COP-17 summit have set a precedent for further direct action here at the Durban climate talks. Following on more than a week of activism, the Canadian Youth Delegation disrupted the high level plenary session today. During Canadian environment minister Peter Kent's opening address to the parties of COP, six members of the CYD stood, removed their jackets, and turned their backs to the minister, revealing a message reading "Turn your back on Canada."

Postcard Activism
by Andrea Palframan and Gary McNutt, Watershed Sentinel

Climate Change Summit, Durban, South Africa

by Andrea Palframan, Watershed Sentinel

At a Greenpeace hosted panel called "The dirty truth about coal" delegates to COP 17 learned the true cost of the world's reliance on coal.

South Africa's industries rely on access to cheap coal. This is enabled by coal subsidies; in 2009, industry was funded to the tune of 312 billion dollars. Apartheid-era Special Pricing Agreements remain in place, giving BHP Biliton and Anglo American Corporation the world's cheapest electricity ($0.02 per kiloWatt hour), about 1/8 what ordinary households pay.

Durban, South Africa: November 30, 2011

by Andrea Palframan, Watershed Sentinel

Canada was awarded the first Fossil of the Day award at the Durban COP17 by the Climate Action Network. Calling Canada 'a bad joke', CAN highlighted the Harper government's contribution to setting weak targets and making empty plans in conferring the dubious honour.

Durban, South Africa

by Andrea Palframan, Watershed Sentinel

Durban, South Africa

by Andrea Palframan, Watershed Sentinel

In the wake of the opening session of COP 17 climate change summit in Durban, violent storms ripped through the city, foreshadowing the dire warnings that will be sounded at the international conference.

Flash floods and electrical outages resulted in six deaths and the accumulation of waist-deep water in lowland homes. Most affected were areas where populations are concentrated in informal slums. A spokesman for the city of Durban, Mthatheni Mabaso said the deaths were due to the collapse of poorly built houses.