John Kerry pledges Climate Change Cooperation with China

Click here for this in full @: http://theenergycollective.com/globalwarmingisreal/211066/us-pledges-far-reaching-climate-cooperation-china-and-japan

John Kerry made climate change a centerpiece of his first Asia tour as Secretary of State over the weekend, signing agreements with both Japan and China for cooperation in implementing practical measures for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The agreements with both nations stressed practical measures available for reducing greenhouse gases, largely ignoring the contentious United Nations process for hammering out an international climate change agreement that has to date fallen far short of its goal.

China and the United States represent the two largest carbon emitting nations and analysts have said the agreement between the two nations could mark a significant move forward and put China and the US at the “center of serious clean energy work.”

Fox News: John Kerry cuts UNDP core contribution for 2014 by 18% (ouch...does this hurt Helen Clark?)

Despite sequester, State Department ups support for the UN

Read this in full @ Fox News: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/04/12/despite-sequester-state-department-ups-support-for-un/#ixzz2QHcUCy8c

By George Russell (Twitter @GeorgeRussell. )

Even as the mandated sequester bites into U.S. federal spending -- and newly appointed Secretary of State John Kerry boasts that he is cutting his budget by 6 percent -- the State Department is planning to boost spending on the United Nations in 2014 by more than 4 percent to at least $3.6 billion.

That is likely to be far from the final tally of Obama Administration support, as hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. development, health and other funds are usually channeled through U.N. agencies and institutions -- with the U.N. agencies taking administrative fees as part of the deal. The most recent tally on the website of the White House Management and Budget website, for example, lists support for the U.N. at $7.7 billion -- in 2010.

Read this in full @ Fox News: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/04/12/despite-sequester-state-department-ups-support-for-un/#ixzz2QHcBsky6

German Socialist MEP slams U.S. Congress on ETS: "Arrogant and ignorant" (John Kerry the only one who agrees with Europe)

Click here to read full article on Euractiv.com

A leading MEP strongly reacted after the US Senate transport committee cleared a key vote on a measure that would ban American airlines from paying for their carbon emissions and participating in the EU’s controversial cap-and-trade scheme.

"The United States spurn international efforts to mitigate climate change," said German Socialist democratic MEP, Jo LEINEN, slamming a US bill under which American airlines would not pay into the EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS).

Leinen called the upcoming decision by the U.S. Congress ‘arrogant’ and ‘ignorant’.
“It would be absolutely arrogant to prohibit American companies to comply with EU legislation. This would be an unprecedented step to thwart the legal standards in Europe. The decision would be ignorant as well because it neglects the increase in greenhouse gas emission caused by aviation. There shall be no special treatment for American Airlines," said Leinen.

The MEP argued that it would be surprising for the US to accept air passenger duties and taxes in Europe, but not the costs from the ETS.

Click here to read full article on Euractiv.com