The Carbon Con
At the end of climate negotiations in Durban the world is no closer to a legally binding agreement on cutting climate change and the UN process is showing serious signs of cracking.
Critics argue that the UN's flagship carbon trading scheme, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), is failing to fulfill it's core aims of cutting carbon emissions and promoting sustainable development.
One major point of contention is the inclusion of coal fired power stations in the CDM, awarding credits to the world's dirtiest energy industry and one at the heart of the problem of rising greenhouse gas emissions.
In India allegations of displacement and forest destruction are linked to a CDM certified coal power project owned by Indian energy behemoth Reliance Power.
The company say they will provide homes, jobs and education for the more than 6,000 people impacted by the project, but many of those already displaced complain of unfulfilled promises.
The project will also benefit from a controversial methodology used to calculate emissions reductions, which has now been suspended by the CDM Executive Board amidst claims it allows coal power stations to grossly exaggerate their CO2 reductions.
As the reality of climate change starts to bite for many of the world's poorest people it's more important than ever that big industry be held to account for their actions in the developing world.
Avoiding catastrophic climate change is made harder when steps taken by the UN fail to regulate the world's largest polluting industry, big coal.
Although stepping on the toes of big business is a big gamble for many of the world's poorest people it is the UN's role to stand up for people most affected by climate change, rather than to protect the profits of industry.
In focusing on the lives of the people most affected by a changing climate we can see the reality of a global system that damns those least responsible for carbon emissions; while simultaneously asking them to make the biggest changes to mitigate its effects.
Many readers might ask what they can do to make a difference.
And the sense of disempowerment felt by so many confronted by this situation is acute.
But the reality is, by making small changes, on a large scale, a huge impact on the lives of some of the worst off can happen.
Education is the beginning of a much larger shift that needs to happen for a change in the paradigm that dominates climate change, and rhetoric about it.
So after the disappointment of Durban we can now focus on what is really important: the actions of you as a consumer in a globalized market.
Critics argue that the UN's flagship carbon trading scheme, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), is failing to fulfill it's core aims of cutting carbon emissions and promoting sustainable development.
One major point of contention is the inclusion of coal fired power stations in the CDM, awarding credits to the world's dirtiest energy industry and one at the heart of the problem of rising greenhouse gas emissions.
In India allegations of displacement and forest destruction are linked to a CDM certified coal power project owned by Indian energy behemoth Reliance Power.
The company say they will provide homes, jobs and education for the more than 6,000 people impacted by the project, but many of those already displaced complain of unfulfilled promises.
The project will also benefit from a controversial methodology used to calculate emissions reductions, which has now been suspended by the CDM Executive Board amidst claims it allows coal power stations to grossly exaggerate their CO2 reductions.
As the reality of climate change starts to bite for many of the world's poorest people it's more important than ever that big industry be held to account for their actions in the developing world.
Avoiding catastrophic climate change is made harder when steps taken by the UN fail to regulate the world's largest polluting industry, big coal.
Although stepping on the toes of big business is a big gamble for many of the world's poorest people it is the UN's role to stand up for people most affected by climate change, rather than to protect the profits of industry.
In focusing on the lives of the people most affected by a changing climate we can see the reality of a global system that damns those least responsible for carbon emissions; while simultaneously asking them to make the biggest changes to mitigate its effects.
Many readers might ask what they can do to make a difference.
And the sense of disempowerment felt by so many confronted by this situation is acute.
But the reality is, by making small changes, on a large scale, a huge impact on the lives of some of the worst off can happen.
Education is the beginning of a much larger shift that needs to happen for a change in the paradigm that dominates climate change, and rhetoric about it.
So after the disappointment of Durban we can now focus on what is really important: the actions of you as a consumer in a globalized market.
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