By Darryl D’Monte

CANCÚN, Dec 9, 2010, (IPS/TerraViva) – A rough yardstick for identifying which Asian countries make the biggest ripples in Cancún is the number of journalists who crowd around the spokesperson immediately after a press conference. Continue Reading

Civil society is calling on governments to act decisively. Credit: Davison Makanga/IPS

By Mantoe Phakathi

CANCÚN, Dec 9, 2010 (IPS/TerraViva) – A reminder of the weakness of the status quo as climate talks in Mexico build towards  their conclusion: even if all parties were to honour the pledges made in the Copenhagen Accord, emissions reductions would fall badly short of what is needed to avert catastrophic global warming. Continue Reading

Yolanda Kakabadse. Crédito: WWF

Por Emilio Godoy

CANCÚN, México, 8 dic (IPS/TerraViva) – América Latina debe construir convenciones regionales para proteger la biodiversidad y combatir el impacto del cambio climático, según la ecuatoriana Yolanda Kakabadse, presidenta internacional del no gubernamental Fondo Mundial para la Naturaleza (WWF). Continue Reading

Climate-driven changes in the water cycle will affect large regions of the world. Credit: Friedrich Böhringer/creative commons license

By Stephen Leahy

CANCÚN, Dec 8, 2010 (IPS/TerraViva) – As the world heats up, continents are drying up, with severe droughts forecast in the future. But negotiators at the climate summit here seem to have forgotten about water in their endless discussions over forests, carbon trading and finances. Continue Reading

Via Campesina march. Credit: Diana Cariboni/IPS

By Diana Cariboni*

CANCÚN, Dec (IPS/TerraViva) – The short-cuts that the United Nations system is offering companies to profit from strategies against global warming were the target of loud protests on the Day of Action for Climate Justice.
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Pakistan's Environment Minister Hameedullah Jan Afridi speaks to an IPS reporter in Cancún. Credit: Keya Acharya/TerraViva

By Keya Acharya

CANCÚN, Mexico, Dec 7, 2010 (IPS/TerraViva) – On the sidelines of the ministerial deliberations at Cancún underway Tuesday, a panel of scientists, climate policy experts and politicians outlined the devastating impacts of the recent floods in northwest Pakistan that destroyed 18 million homes, affecting 20 million people and costing the country five percent of its GDP. Continue Reading

Martillo en la protesta de Vía Campesina. Diana Cariboni/IPS

Por Diana Cariboni

CANCÚN, México, 7 dic (IPS/TerraViva) Los atajos que ofrece el sistema de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas a las empresas para lucrar con las estrategias contra el recalentamiento global fueron blanco de duras críticas en el Día de Acción Mundial por la Justicia Climática. Continue Reading

Greensolutions Expo, Cancún

By Björn Stigson *

CANCÚN, Dec 7, 2010 (IPS/TerraViva) – While negotiators in Cancún are struggling to make progress there is something interesting happening in the world. And it is good news. Countries have started to recognize and act upon the economic value in meeting the demand for green technology. Continue Reading

By Emilio Godoy

CANCÚN, Dec 7, 2010 (IPS/TerraViva) – Latin American economies are caught on the horns of a dilemma: how to reduce their carbon consumption without sacrificing economic and social development. Subsidies for the development of renewable energies and for learning new technologies need to be increased urgently, experts say. Continue Reading

Irrigation near Kakamas, South Africa: sustainable use of water is especially critical in a warming world. Credit: Patrick Burnett/IPS

By Stephen Leahy

MEXICO CITY, Dec 7, 2010 (IPS/TerraViva) Africa will be amongst the hardest hit regions of the world as the climate heats up, threatening the continent’s food security, experts agree. If global temperatures rise 2.0 degrees C, southern Africa will warm an additional 1.5 degrees to a 3.5-degree increase on average. Continue Reading