Barack Obama's second term comes with a new set of priorities for the US President. Among them is one long-forgotten subject that was absent from the campaign trail last year: climate change. The environment is a complex topic of conversation in a country where many do not believe that man-made climate change exists. Can Obama bring climate change back to the forefront of US political action?
A new global climate deal was struck in the South African city of Durban on Sunday, after weeks of exhaustive discussions ended with an agreement on a far-reaching program that includes sharing the responsibility for controlling carbon emissions.
It had been touted as the "last chance" to save the environment. But hopes to reach a new deal on climate change at the Durban conference looked dead in the water from day one. Now, with the Kyoto protocol reaching its end, and participating nations unsure to renew their commitments, the only thing that looks set to change is the climate itself.
World temperatures are on the climb, with the past decade and a half witnessing the 13 hottest years on record, the UN weather office said Tuesday. The Arctic sea ice has also shrunk to a record low in 2011.
Britain has pledged 73 million dollars in emergency aid to help East Africa cope with its most severe food crisis in decades as the UN warned that the drought across the region was likely to worsen over the next few months.
Marc Perelman interviews Jean-Marc Fédida, Lawyer and Author of "Impasse de Grenelle, de la perversité écologiste" ; Bruno Rebelle, Environmental Consultant and Member of Europe Ecologie-Les Verts ; and Bruno Jeanbart, Director of Polling of Opinion Way Institute.
One year after the Copenhagen summit fiasco, a new climate change summit is taking place in Cancun, Mexico. The expectations are low because of the Copenhagen precedent, the climate skeptics controversy and because the economic crisis has seemingly pushed environment to the backburner. So will there be progress towards a global and binding agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emmissions? Will the US and China be part of it?
European and Asian leaders from 48 nations began three days of talks centred on trade, IMF reform and climate change on Monday, but a territorial spat between Japan and China threatened to overshadow the event.
Widespread flooding in Pakistan means the country is facing its biggest catastrophe ever, according to United Nations officials. Pakistan is asking for a massive input of international aid. But is it too late for the victims? And even if the aid is promised, can its delivery to those who need it the most be ensured?
