Analysis14 November

Brazil sets a target to reduce future carbon emissions by 2020

After months of political infighting Brazilian authorities have finally agreed last Friday to commit to a voluntary target to curb between 36 percent and 39 percent of projected emissions under a Business As Usual (BAU) scenario to 2020. It is a major political shift, although real carbon cuts could be much lower than the percentages seem to indicate.

Sergio Abranches More »

Op-Ed06 November

Will Copenhagen flop or cope? There is still hope.

With Barcelona just waiting for the final plenary session, all hopes of a breakthrough seem to have already vanished.

Sergio Abranches More »

Feature04 November

Brazilian government still to decide about commitments to take to Copenhagen

Amid strong controversies among his ministers, president Lula has supposedly concluded a cabinet meeting, last Tuesday, by saying “we’ll move ahead, but first bring me a consensual policy with figures all of you agree with.”

Sergio Abranches More »

Analysis03 November

China and Brazil: two key players in Copenhagen

China will likely play a pivotal role at COP15, next December in Copenhagen. Brazil can also have a leading role. This decision is on president Lula’s hand today.

Sergio Abranches More »

Analysis02 November

The Barcelona Opening: What can we expect from this game?

The Barcelona Climate Change Talks have opened today amid very mixed expectations. There still are some very clear divergences to tackle before a text for the Copenhagen agreement can be finally agreed upon.

Sergio Abranches

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Feature30 October

Are we heading to a skeleton agreement for a piecemeal climate policy in Copenhagen?

Only 37 days before COP15 in Copenhagen, pragmatic proposals for a new framework agreement leaving detailing to be negotiated ex-post are gaining force.

Sergio Abranches More »