The US announces an emissions target....contingent on the enactment of domestic legislation...

In a letter to Yvo de Boer, the United States announced an emissions target of "In the range of 17%, in conformity with anticipated U.S. energy and climate legislation, recognizing that the final target will be reported to the Secretariat in light of enacted legislation".

Cap and Trade officially dead for US

David Roberts at Grist, sadly calls it like it is. The prospects for US Cap and Trade legislation have diminished to very-close-to absolute zero, 0 kelvin, not celsius.

What this means, given that Obama just went in front of 115 Heads of State to suggest a target of 17% below 2005, is going to be answered very soon. The first soft deadline for countries to put their pledges to the Copenhagen Accord appendixes is fast approaching.

U.S. assessing climate change financing - envoy

This article describes the current US thinking on climate change funds promised in Copenhagen.

Copenhagen Accord faces $30bn aid test

The article linked in the title by Reuters is a very succinct description of the confusion around the monies put on the table in Copenhagen by developed countries.

US top climate change diplomat speaks about COP15

Grist has published an interesting interview between Amanda Little and Todd Stern, the top US diplomat on climate change. Read the full story in the title link to the Grist interview.

Indonesia ready for binding targets

State Environment Minister Hatta confirms Indonesia will be submitting an official report to the UN regarding the Copenhagen Accord. This is big news for the country that, by most estimates, is the largest emitter of CO2 from deforestation.

Fiery battle in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest

On the Arapiuns River, barges of illegally taken timber smolder after being set aflame to protest logging in Gleba Nova Olinda, Amazon Rainforest.
Photo Credit: Brenda Baletti



Brenda Baletti has a very interesting story in Grist on struggles over rainforests in Renascer and Gleba Nova Olinda in Brazil.

Seeing forests through the cloud: Google launches Forest Carbon earth engine

You can see one post in the title and another one here:

http://blog.google.org/2009/12/earth-engine-powered-by-google.html

Read this blog now.

Fantastic article by NRDC's David Doniger on the Copenhagen Accord.

Senate passage of Cap and Trade in 2010 grows slimmer

With at least six senate dems saying "no" to cap and trade, it is getting almost impossible to do the math and get enough votes for c&t legislation passing the US senate in 2010. Which means even in Mexico 2010, the US won't have its own implementing legislation in place.