By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Saturday November 28, 2015 Paris climate talks: powerful business lobbies seek to undermine deal As the UNÕs climate talks in Paris begin, the lobbying and public relations push from some of the biggest corporations responsible for climate change has gone into overdrive. What are the messages theyÕre so keen to spread, and what will they mean for the COP21 conference Ð and for the climate? A recent report from the NGO Corporate Europe Observatory reveals that whatÕs on offer at COP21 is nothing short of a climate catastrophe, a guaranteed recipe to cook the planet. But rather than sending the dish back, political leaders have asked for seconds, bringing the very companies responsible for the problem ever closer into the UN fold. James Bacchus, a trade expert at the International Chamber of Commerce, says: ÒThis issue is important for governments to address but it is far too important to leave to governments alone.Ó Fortunately for Bacchus, the UN agrees. The problem, however, is that is has also succeeded in creating several platforms to ensure business-friendly proposals are at the heart of climate policy-making, rather than vice versa. New markets, experimental technologies, all endorsed so polluters donÕt have to change their business models. The UNÕs climate chief, Christiana Figueres Ð who before taking up her post was principal climate change advisor to Latin AmericaÕs leading energy utility, Endesa Ð has even told the world to Òstop demonising oil and gas companiesÓ. (Continued: The Guardian) http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/nov/27/paris-climate-talks-un-business-lobbying-deal-governments Climate Change, COP21, Paris, conference, environment, business, summit, machinery, talk, action
{"Image ImageDescription": "By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Saturday November 28, 2015\n\nParis climate talks: powerful business lobbies seek to undermine deal\n\nAs the UN\u2019s climate talks in Paris begin, the lobbying and public relations push from some of the biggest corporations responsible for climate change has gone into overdrive. What are the messages they\u2019re so keen to spread, and what will they mean for the COP21 conference \u2013 and for the climate?\n\nA recent report from the NGO Corporate Europe Observatory reveals that what\u2019s on offer at COP21 is nothing short of a climate catastrophe, a guaranteed recipe to cook the planet. But rather than sending the dish back, political leaders have asked for seconds, bringing the very companies responsible for the problem ever closer into the UN fold.\n\nJames Bacchus, a trade expert at the International Chamber of Commerce, says: \u201cThis issue is important for governments to address but it is far too important to leave to governments alone.\u201d\n\nFortunately for Bacchus, the UN agrees. The problem, however, is that is has also succeeded in creating several platforms to ensure business-friendly proposals are at the heart of climate policy-making, rather than vice versa. New markets, experimental technologies, all endorsed so polluters don\u2019t have to change their business models.\n\nThe UN\u2019s climate chief, Christiana Figueres \u2013 who before taking up her post was principal climate change advisor to Latin America\u2019s leading energy utility, Endesa \u2013 has even told the world to \u201cstop demonising oil and gas companies\u201d. (Continued: The Guardian) http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/nov/27/paris-climate-talks-un-business-lobbying-deal-governments\n\nClimate Change, COP21, Paris, conference, environment, business, summit, machinery, talk, action", "Image Orientation": "Horizontal (normal)", "Image XResolution": "72", "Image YResolution": "72", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Image Software": "Adobe Photoshop CS3 Macintosh", "Image DateTime": "2015:11:27 16:36:42", "Image Artist": "Graeme MacKay", "Image Copyright": "Graeme MacKay: http://www.mackaycartoons.net", "Image ExifOffset": "2100", "Thumbnail Compression": "JPEG (old-style)", "Thumbnail XResolution": "72", "Thumbnail YResolution": "72", "Thumbnail ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormat": "2238", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormatLength": "9453", "EXIF ColorSpace": "sRGB", "EXIF ExifImageWidth": "1008", "EXIF ExifImageLength": "826"}