Reaching Boiling Point? Global Perspectives on the 2011 UN Climate Summit
INTRODUCTION
South Africa plays host to the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP 17) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that will be held in Durban from November 28 to December 9, 2011. With slow progress having been achieved at previous meetings, expectations are high for the talks to usher in a just, equitable and binding international agreement to deal, decisively, with the threat of global climate change. With this dossier the Heinrich Böll Foundation aims to provide the reader with analysis of the major issues at stake and the context in which the negotiations will be held. The dossier also aims to provide ongoing commentary and updates on major developments in the run up to the negotiations.
Latest Articles
REPORT
Gender Relations and Women's Vulnerability to Climate Change
ANALYSIS
COP 17 in Durban: A Largely Empty Package
- December 19, 2011 - With negotiation time extended for more than 30 hours, the South African Presidency was able to conclude the climate summit in Durban with a "Durban Package" of measures. However, while agreement was reached - barely - many key issues remained unresolved, making the COP17 results in many respects "a largely empty package". By Lili Fuhr, Liane Schalatek, Tigere Chagutah and Kulthoum Omari more»
BRIEFING PAPER
Locking up the Future - Unconventional Oil in Africa
- November 17, 2011 - Sub-Saharan Africa is attracting investment in “unconventional” oil. This short briefing gives an overview of three investments currently in prospect in the context of debates about the need to mitigate global environmental threats and ensure sustainable development. more»
PUBLICATION SERIES
Perspectives #04/ 2011: Mobilising Climate Finance for Africa
- November 11, 2011 -
Climate finance has recently become a subject of profound interest to the global debates on climate change. This edition of Perspectives sheds light on the issues that affect Africa's access to climate finance.
COMMENT
African Civil Society Engagement with COP 17: One Step Closer to an African Climate Change and Development Agenda
- November 11, 2011 - It is not clear what Durban will deliver, but COP 17 is an opportunity for African civil society to rally forces and come to some kind of agreement on how it can proceed to work in unity, concludes Nancy Kachingwe more»
DISCUSSION PAPER
A Future for International Climate Politics - Durban and Beyond
- November 9, 2011 -
Should people expect their political leaders to tackle multiple crises in a comprehensive manner? And if so, what are the appropriate international fora to do so? Ask
Lili Fuhr and Barbara Unmüßig more»
ANALYSIS
The Rocky Road from Panama to Durban
- November 7, 2011 -
If the Cancun climate change conference (COP 16) was the place where the climate convention train got back on track, the Durban conference (COP 17) needs to be the place where key elements are delivered writes
Paul Horsman more»
Voices and Expectations
OPINION
Realising That We Are Mother Earth: A Renewed Moral Vision for Dealing With Climate Change
VOICES
Perspectives from Nigeria ahead of COP 17
- September 8, 2011 - Three Nigerians of various constituencies talk about the impacts of climate change on their country and what their expectations for COP 17 are. more»
VIDEO
Conversations on COP 17
- In this section you can watch conversations with representatives of various constituencies on how they are engaging with the climate change negotiations process and what their expectations for COP 17 are. more»
Climate Diplomacy
DISCUSSION PAPER
A Future for International Climate Politics - Durban and Beyond
Should people expect their political leaders to tackle multiple crises in a comprehensive manner? And if so, what are the appropriate international fora to do so? Ask
Lili Fuhr and Barbara Unmüßig more»
ANALYSIS
The Rocky Road from Panama to Durban
- November 7, 2011 -
If the Cancun climate change conference (COP 16) was the place where the climate convention train got back on track, the Durban conference (COP 17) needs to be the place where key elements are delivered writes
Paul Horsman more»
COMMENT
COP 17: A Complex Exercise in Climate Diplomacy for South Africa
- June 8, 2011 - South Africa will host the 2011 UN climate change negotiations. Expectations around the country's role as host are high. By Lesley Masters more»
Climate Finance
PUBLICATION SERIES
Perspectives #04/ 2011: Mobilising Climate Finance for Africa
Climate finance has recently become a subject of profound interest to the global debates on climate change. This edition of Perspectives sheds light on the issues that affect Africa's access to climate finance.
REPORT
“Sub-optimal” Outcome in the Transitional Committee – No Consensus on the Design of the Green Climate Fund
- October 24, 2011 - The seven months long process to design a new Green Climate Fund, on which a 40 member Transitional Committee has embarked since the end of April, ended at the fourth TC Meeting in Cape Town with a "sub-optimal" outcome as TC members failed to reach a consensus on a draft governing instrument for the Fund. By Liane Schalatek more»
ANALYSIS
Engendering the Green Climate Fund - An Opportunity for Best Practice
- July 20, 2011 - Gender considerations are currently not systematically addressed in existing climate financing instruments. Liane Schalatek identifies the shortcomings and puts forward recommendations to fix these. more»
Mitigation
ANALYSIS
Readying Africa for REDD+
WORKING PAPER
Grounding Green Power - Bottom-Up Perspectives on Smart Renewable Energy Policy in Developing Countries
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This paper seeks to identify key components of smart renewable energy policy in developing countries and provides recommendations for maximizing the effectiveness of international support for the deployment of renewable energies.
Adaptation
ANALYSIS
Loss and Damage: Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction into Climate Change Negotiations
STUDY
Need for Local Participation to Adapt to Climate Change: Case Study Thailand
- November 9, 2011 - This study investigates the extent to which communities in northeastern Thailand, have been exposed to climate risks and how local mechanisms have increased their adaptive capacity to manage the risks. By Jost Pachaly and Wanun Permpibul more»
PUBLICATION
Climate Governance in Africa - Adaptation Strategies and Institutions
- Our four Africa offices commissioned studies to evaluate the state of preparedness for climate change adaptation in seven African countries. What are the impacts of and vulnerabilities to climate change in Africa? To what extent do existing adaptation policies, strategies and plans respond to the vulnerabilities identified? By Masego Madzwamuse more»
Extractive Industries
BRIEFING PAPER
Locking up the Future - Unconventional Oil in Africa
STUDY
Marginal Oil - What is driving oil companies dirtier and deeper?
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The oil industry is investing heavily in dirtier and riskier forms of unconventional oil. This study describes the drivers behind this new trend and provides a global overview on such investments.
STUDY
Eni´s Investment in Tar Sands and Palm Oil in the Congo Basin
- Eni, formerly the Italian state oil company, is undertaking a new multi-billion dollar investment in Congo in developing tar sands, oil palm for food and bio-diesel and gas-fuelled electricity. Such investments have been heavily criticized for causing social and environmental damage, both locally and globally. The actual study gives background information about the plans. more»
Background