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

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

An irrigation pond in rural Chiapas, Mexico. Credit:Mauricio Ramos/IPS.

By Emilio Godoy*

MEXICO CITY, Nov 17, 2010 (Tierramérica/TerraViva) – Without financing, many Mexican farmers cannot improve their ageing irrigation systems, which are essential if Mexico is to withstand the effects of climate change and reduce its emissions of greenhouse-effect gases.
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Aerial view of the Moon Palace hotel, to host COP16, where an aero generator is to be installed without an environmental impact study. Credit:Courtesy of Mexican Centre for Environmental Law (CEMDA).

By Emilio Godoy*

MEXICO CITY, Nov 9, 2010 (Tierramérica/TerraViva) – The beauty of the Mexican Caribbean resort city of Cancún may have been one reason for choosing it to host the upcoming global summit on climate change. But Cancún has little to recommend it as a model for adapting to the challenges posed by climate change.
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