Short Takes — 001

Listening to Biden at COP.

Apparently “Human Security” is about “Energy Security”.

Here’s some first thoughts on Biden’s speech at COP27.

The attendance was highly symbolic and significant.

President Biden was the only leader of a currently major polluting country to attend the climate talks in Egypt. President Xi Jinping of China and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India did not attend.

This is a visual history of the Eurokleptocene. One of the things it tells us is that the US and Europe are responsible for 60% of the CO2 in the atmosphere.

By contrast, European countries — which are collectively responsible for major emissions — were well represented.

This is really important. Biden and Europe want China and India to “step up” and “chip in”. There is a move by the US to have India and China reclassified as “Industrialized” by the UN.

This sounds arcane but words have precise meanings and consequences. Industrialized nations up to now has been synonymous with “WHITE” nations.

This change in status would change the amount China and India would be expected to contribute to the Global Mitigation and Clean Energy Transition fund. It would change it dramatically upwards.