Hillary
Clinton to attend climate talks
The
US Secretary of State will hold meetings at the Copenhagen
conference on Thursday and then join up with President Barack
Obama when he arrives.
15/12/2009 - The State Department says Secretary of State
Hillary Rodham Clinton will travel to Copenhagen this week
to attend a conference aimed at fashioning a global deal
to curb emissions that cause global warming.
The
department has not announced Clinton's trip, but an official
speaking on condition of anonymity said she would hold meetings
at the conference on Thursday and then join up with President
Barack Obama when he arrives.
In
an opinion article published in the International Herald-Tribune
newspaper on Tuesday, Clinton called for what she termed
a "broad operational accord on climate change that
will set us on a new course."
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Pope
calls for action on climate change
Pope
Benedict XVI called for urgent action to protect the environment,
saying Tuesday that climate change and natural catastrophes
threaten the rights to life, food, health — and ultimately
peace.
15/12/2009 - In his annual message on the Roman Catholic
Church's World Day of Peace, the pope argued that the world's
economic, social, and environmental problems are moral crises
that require mankind to rethink its way of living.
"We
can no longer do without a real change of outlook which
will result in new life-styles," he said, touching
again on a theme that has earned him a reputation as the
"green pope."
Benedict
called on advanced societies to adopt "more sober lifestyles,"
reducing energy consumption and favoring energy-efficient
policies. He encouraged research into ways to exploit solar
energy, to manage forests and to improve waste disposal.
Action
is more pressing than ever "in the face of signs of
a growing crisis which it would be irresponsible not to
take seriously," he said.
Noting
that climate change, and resulting desertification, could
push millions into poverty, hunger, conflict and displacement,
the pope said: "All these are issues with a profound
impact on the exercise of human rights, such as the right
to life, food, health and development."
Benedict
said industrialized countries should recognize their responsibility
for the current environmental crisis and show solidarity
toward developing nations. However, emerging countries are
not exempt from their own responsibility and there is a
need for internationally-coordinated action, he said.
Environmental
protection is a theme close to Benedict's heart and he has
made frequent calls to save the planet.
During
his papacy, the Vatican has been taking steps toward greater
environmental sustainability, joining a reforestation project
aimed at offsetting its CO2 emissions, and has installed
solar cells on the roof of its main auditorium.
Da UNFCCC
