Poor nations want U.S. to pay reparations for extreme weather

[lostinblue 1,989]

Poor nations want U.S. to pay reparations for extreme weather

Poorer nations suffering from extreme weather disasters, so much so that their citizens are seeking refugee in safer terrains outside their borders, want rich nations like the United States to pay for reparations and to relocate populations.

Preparatory talks ahead of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change to be held in Paris in December has representatives from developing nations asking for more than an already agreed upon $100 billion per year for climate change mitigation measures. They want additional compensation for weather-related disasters as well as a "displacement coordination facility" for refugees. And they want all this to be legally binding as part of the larger anticipated Paris accord.

The U.S. and wealthier nations in the European Union are balking.

The rationale for the additional funds and refugee facility is based on donor country failures to follow through cohesively on aid pledges following weather-related disasters. For example, last March, Cyclone Pam devastated islands in the South Pacific but attention quickly turned to the massive earthquake in Nepal soon thereafter. That left small nations such as Vanuatu, which was devastated, to manage its own cleanup without much in the way of international assistance.

Poorer nations blame extreme weather-related disasters on climate change stemming from emission-polluting countries that have more developed and wealthier economies.

The U.N. Paris conference aims to reach an international, legally biding agreement on climate change that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thwart global temperature rise. A separate agreement is being eyed to address losses and damages from extreme weather events, thought to be a result of climate change.

As it stands, the Warsaw Mechanism, adopted in 2013 at the U.N. climate conference in Poland, established a structure to address losses and damages associated with climate change impacts. However that mechanism is due to expire this year when a new climate agreement is reached. Poorer nations who say they are on the front lines of climate change and suffer the worst of its extreme weather ramifications aren't pleased by the expiration. They want loss and damage provisions to be extended and expanded upon.

Reports indicate a compromise will be sought whereby the Warsaw Mechanism is extended, yet carved out from any legally binding agreement.

Meanwhile, environmental groups are lobbying to make reparations even more punitive and require polluting companies in the private sector to step up and also pay for extreme weather-related damages.

Property and casualty losses have been a point of contention for years in climate-change discussions. How to handle refugee claims is a relatively new issue that comes at a time when Europe is facing a separate refugee crisis of its own, with hordes of people seeking asylum from war-torn countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Nine civil wars are raging in countries from Pakistan to Nigeria.

Adding climate refugees to those numbers may be too much for government representatives to take on at the moment. Without question, however, a refugee facility needs to be discussed if not negotiated, as do further compensation measures for poor countries.

The $100 billion-a-year-commitment by 2020 seems like a lot of money, but increasingly it isn't looking like enough funding. With extreme weather events on the rise, so too will be the costs of cleanup and the tolls on people's lives.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/09/12/kostigen-climate-change-reparations/72014440/

I am sure the Kenyan will be happy to give away more of our money before he leaves office. Global warming/climate change has always been about the money

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

You just can't say "Obama" can you.

[Neonred 3,573]

Tell them to go suck an egg. I suggest they beg for some money from China.

[HFM181818 750]

we don't owe anyone anything...send 'em a case of Kleenex

[Boiler 45,649]

Souns like they should launch a GoFundMe campaign.

[Dashinka 24,579]

I think that is why Obama is so focused on climate change now. He knows he has only a little over a year left in office and he needs to establish an income. He sees how much Al Gore is making on this farce and figures why not get a piece for himself.

[Sousuke 1,214]

I do think developed countries should pay for relocation of certain island residences.

[Rob L 3,811]

I do think developed countries should pay for relocation of certain island residences.

Why it is so obviously not happening, if it is happening it is a natural occurrence an fated to occur, if it is the result of modern carbon use good for us, we got ours and the poor fisherman in Bangladesh can lump it

Study Finds Snowpack in California’s Sierra Nevada to Be Lowest in 500 Years

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/15/science/california-snow-report.html?_r=0

In Alaska: Too Many Fires, Not Enough Snow

The state nearly set a record for number of acres burned this year, while the Iditarod once more had to be moved north.

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/09/alaska-fires-climate-change/403060/

Oyster Industry More Convinced Of Ocean Acidification Impacts Than Public

http://www.eurasiareview.com/30082015-oyster-industry-more-convinced-of-ocean-acidification-impacts-than-public/

[lostinblue 1,989]

Why it is so obviously not happening, if it is happening it is a natural occurrence an fated to occur, if it is the result of modern carbon use good for us, we got ours and the poor fisherman in Bangladesh can lump it

Study Finds Snowpack in California’s Sierra Nevada to Be Lowest in 500 Years

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/15/science/california-snow-report.html?_r=0

In Alaska: Too Many Fires, Not Enough Snow

The state nearly set a record for number of acres burned this year, while the Iditarod once more had to be moved north.

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/09/alaska-fires-climate-change/403060/

Oyster Industry More Convinced Of Ocean Acidification Impacts Than Public

http://www.eurasiareview.com/30082015-oyster-industry-more-convinced-of-ocean-acidification-impacts-than-public/

All due to your global warming

[decocker 7,198]

All due to your global warming

[Rob L 3,811]

Fixed

All due to y our introduction of extra carbon dioxide into the atmosphere global warming

[Boiler 45,649]

We have had the wettest year for at least 20.

[JohnR! 5,495]

Whatever happened to Ron White? :rofl: :rofl:

Fixed

[Rob L 3,811]

Whatever happened to Ron White? :rofl: :rofl:

Thanks for that , reminded me to go look up some taterhead stories

"Yesterday, I was sitting on a beanbag chair naked, eating Cheetos and...[audience cheers], I was flippin' through the television and I saw Robert Tilton. He's a televangelist from Dallas, and uh, he was staring at me. And he said this. He said, "Are you lonely?" [shrugs] Yeah. "Have you spent half your life in bars, pursuing sins of the flesh?" [Takes a sip of his drink]This guy's good! "Are you sitting in a beanbag chair, naked, eating Cheetos?" [shocked look] YES, SIR! "Do you feel the urge to get up and send me a thousand dollars?" Close! I thought he was talking about me there for a second! Apparently, I'm ain't the only cat on the block that digs Cheetos."