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York College chemistry professors Keith Peterman and Greg Foy follow the science and global politics of the evolving climate change story.-
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Monthly Archives: November 2009
Uncle Sam and the Dragon Shake Hands
The United States and China–the two leading greenhouse gas producers–are critical to the success of the upcoming UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen. It’s important to remember that the United States was the leading greenhouse gas emitter until May 2008, when … Continue reading
Posted in climate change, international relations, politics, science
Tagged China, COP15, greenhouse gas emissions, US
3 Comments
Casting a Brighter Light on Copenhagen
At a press briefing yesterday in Bonn, Germany, Yvo de Boer, the United Nations’ top climate change official, cast a new and brighter light on the upcoming COP15 Climate Conference in Copenhagen. As recently as last week, prospects looked … Continue reading
Posted in climate change, economics, international relations, politics, science
Tagged climate change, COP15, Copenhagen, Obama
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The Kyoto Protocol – an important first step
In December of 1997, 10,000 delegates from 161 nations convened the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Kyoto, Japan. This was the UNFCCC Third Conference of Parties – called COP3–and its goal was to establish mandatory targets … Continue reading
Posted in climate change, economics, international relations, politics, science
Tagged COP15, COP3, Copenhagen, Kyoto Protcol, UNFCCC
1 Comment
Singapore Dims the Light on Copenhagen
In Singapore this past weekend, the prospects that a binding climate change agreement will emerge from COP15 in Copenhagen dimmed significantly. The COP15 Climate Conference home page acknowledges as much in its banner headline – “World leaders: Legally binding treaty … Continue reading
Posted in climate change, economics, international relations, politics, science
Tagged climate change, COP15, Copenhage, Singapore
2 Comments
‘Earth Summit’ in Rio leads to climate change framework
During his time in office, one of President George H. W. Bush’s greatest opportunities to display global leadership on the issue of climate change was at the 1992 “Earth Summit” in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At the summit, Western European … Continue reading
Posted in climate change, international relations, politics, science
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The “White House Effect” on greenhouse gas emissions
Will the US agree to mandatory emissions cuts in Copenhagen? Before considering this question, we need to reflect on why the U.S. has failed to effectively address greenhouse gas emissions in the past, in spite of the global scientific consensus … Continue reading
Posted in climate change, economics, international relations, politics, science
1 Comment
Will Copenhagen Climate Conference be historic?
Climate change is a global issue that requires a global solution. As a professor of Chemistry and an individual interested in this issue, I have followed the science and politics of the emerging climate change story for the past two … Continue reading
Posted in climate change, economics, international relations, politics, science
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