Young demonstrators into the bus. Credit: Mantoe Phakathi/IPS

By Mantoe Phakathi *

CANCÚN, Dec 11, 2010 (IPS/TerraViva) – Drama unfolded outside the Azteca Expocentre of the Moon Palace when police rounded up a group of about 20 youths who were protesting on the slow pace of the climate change negotiations. Continue Reading

Par Mantoe Phakathi

CANCÚN, 9 déc (IPS/TerraViva) – Un rappel de la faiblesse du statu quo alors que les négociations climatiques au Mexique tirent vers la fin: même si toutes les parties devaient honorer les engagements pris dans l’Accord de Copenhague, les réductions des émissions n’atteindraient pas le niveau nécessaire pour éviter le réchauffement catastrophique de la planète.
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

Felix Finkbeiner. Credit: Mantoe Phakathi/IPS

By Mantoe Phakathi

CANCÚN, Dec 9, 2010 (IPS/TerraViva) – While delegates, ministers and politicans struggle towards agreement on a climate change treaty in the conference rooms of the Moon Palace, a group of children are getting on with it outside, planting trees to save the planet. Continue Reading

Jatropha berries. Credit: John Bwakali/IPS

Par Mantoe Phakathi

MBABANE, 7 déc (IPS/TerraViva) – “Nous allons à Cancún pas mieux lotis que nous l’étions à Copenhague”, a déclaré Thuli Makama, la directrice des Amis de la terre – Swaziland, pendant qu’elle se préparait à se rendre aux négociations sur le climat au Mexique. Continue Reading

Mokoro canoes on the Okavango Delta. Credit: Wikicommons

By Mantoe Phakathi

CANCÚN, Dec 7, 2010, (IPS/TerraViva) – One more thing to add to the checklist of requirement for a sound global agreement on climate change: water. Continue Reading

Protestors insisted on protection of the interests of indigenous people and peasant farmers. Credit: Mantoe Phakathi/IPS

By Mantoe Phakathi

CANCÚN, Dec 6, 2010 (IPS/TerraViva) – As ministers arrived for the second week of climate change negotiations in the Mexican resort city of Cancún, an estimated two thousand marchers took to the streets to oppose what they called a capitalist outcome of deliberations.

“We’re seeing a green capitalism here in Cancún, where rich countries are calling for solutions aimed at violating the rights of not only the environment but also of grassroots groups,” said Mary Lon Malig, from peasant farmers’ organisation La Via Campesina. Continue Reading

Farmers have a role to play in reducing emissions. Credit: Kristin Palitza/IPS

By Mantoe Phakathi*

CANCÚN, Dec 5, 2010, (IPS/TerraViva) – Global agriculture contributes in the region of 17 percent to the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change, but according to the World Bank, climate smart agriculture techniques can both reduce emissions and meet the challenge of producing enough food for a growing world population. Continue Reading

By Mantoe Phakathi

CANCÚN, Dec 4, 2010 (IPS/TerraViva) – Gender inequalities magnify the impacts of climate change on women worldwide. Activists with the network Gender CC – Women for Climate Justice say that financing a response to climate change must take this into account and be responsive to the needs of women. Continue Reading

Dr Lucia Mybo Mommers makes a point at a side event. Credit: Mantoe Phakathi/IPS/TerraViva

By Mantoe Phakathi

CANCÚN, Dec 2 (IPS/TerraViva) – Hammering out a deal on climate change that responds to the science, satisfies the economics, and offers support to the most vulnerable… sometimes it seems there are too many competing interests to make real progress. What role might education play in bridging the gaps? Continue Reading