United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban
From November 28th through December 11th 2011, representatives from around the world met to negotiate a global agreement to limit greenhouse gases in Durban, South Africa at the U.N’s 17th Conference of the Parties. Hundreds of public interest organizations and thousands of activists from around the world attended the meeting to advocate for a fair, ambitious and binding agreement that will reduce global emissions, build vulnerable nations’ resilience to climate change and foster a low-carbon green economy globally. However, the talks also renewed the Kyoto Protocol in principle and a new process called the Durban Platform for Enhanced Cooperation(DPEC) was forged. Under the DPEC process countries will negotiate a new "outcome with legal force" by 2015 which would replace the Kyoto Protocol whose second commitment would end in 2017 and come into force no later than 2020. In Durban further progress was also made on the implementation of several elements of the Cancun agreements including deforestation, technology transfer and transparency. The Durban talks also formally established The Green Climate Fund as well as an Adaptation Committee. The Durban talks made progress on keeping the multilateral process alive but there is much work to be done if the UNFCCC process is to adequately address the climate crisis. The Agreements in Durban indicate that there is still some political will for countries to continue negotiations at the international level, but they do not adequately reflect the reality and the urgency needed to deal with climate change now. For example, countries agreed that binding targets would probably not come into force until 2020 and there was no clarity in Durban on how countries intend to cut green house gas emissions before 2020.
Check out the concluding statements and analysis tab, lower on this page, to see reactions from US CAN members and allies.
Click here to see the official UNFCCC Durban Climate Change Conference Documents.
The Durban Climate Negotiations Briefing Book
For more the latest resources and materials please click on the tabs below:
Press Statements & Analysis
- Sierra Club Statement on the Durban Climate Talks, Sierra Club Press Release 12.11.11
- Union of Concerned Scientists Offers Immediate Reaction on the Durban Climate Negotiations' Outcome, Union of Concerned Scientists Statement 12.11.11
- Climate Talks Crack Open Door to New Agreement, Environmental Defense Fund Press Release 12.11.11
- From Durban Climate Talks, Important Progress, Natural Resources Defense Council 12.11.11
- Governments Fail on Ambition, Courage at UN Climate Change Talks, World Wildlife Fund Press Release 12.11.11
- Reaction To Durban Climate Talks, Friends of the Earth International Press Release 12.10.11
- What is left to fight for at COP17, Action Aid Press Release 12.9.11
- U.S. Civil Society Groups to Durban: Don’t Punt, US Climate Action Network Press Release 12.7.11
- Debating Deforestation at Durban: Can We Feed the World’s Growing Population, Address Climate Change and Stop Deforestation?, National Wildlife Federation Press Release 12.5.11
- The Nature Conservancy’s Global Climate Program Director Sarene Marshall Comments on the Status of the Durban Climate Negotiations, The Nature Conservancy Press Release 12.5.11
- Durban Highlights Wednesday, 30 November 2011, Earth Negotiations Bulletin 12.1.11
- CEO Letter to Secretary Clinton on Durban, Letter 11.29.11
- Durban Highlights Monday, 28 November 2011, Earth Negotiations Bulletin 11.29.11
- Annual U.N. Climate Meeting is a Fork in the Road, Union of Concerned Scientists Backgrounder 11.29.11
- United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban, Earth Negotiations Bulletin 11.28.11
- New Study Adds Urgency to Reform UN Offsetting Scheme in Durban, UN Clean Development Mechanism Press Release 11.25.11
- Pressure on EU mounts as UNFCCC suspends flawed rules for coal offsetting projects, UN Clean Development Mechanism and Sierra Club Press Release 11.24.11
- UN report a wake-up call for Durban climate talks, World Wildlife Fund Press Release 11.23.11
- Bridging the Emissions Gap to Meet 2-Degree Target Doable, UNEP Press Release 11.23.11
- More than 50 Members of Congress Call on Obama Administration to Pursue Ambitious Agenda at Durban Climate Change Summit, World Wildlife Fund Press Release 11.22.11
- 53 Members of Congress Call on Obama Administration to Pursue Ambitious Agenda at Durban Climate Change Summit, Oxfam America Press Release 11.22.11
- Demands for Durban Climate Summit: Environmentalists, Human and Civil Rights Activists, Religious Leaders Press Obama Administration for Bold Action, World Wildlife Fund Press Release 11.21.11
Blogs
- Durban's Climate Debacle, Institute for Policy Studies Blog 1.5.12
- What's Next Now That the Durban Climate Negotiations Are Behind Us?, Kelly Rigg Blog 12.19.11
- Beyond Durban, The New York Times 12.16.11
- Filling the Blank Climate Page After Durban, Oxfam Blog 12.16.11
- Greater Transparency & Accountability in Global Warming Agreement Reached in South Africa, Natural Resources Defense Council Blog 12.16.11
- Nations Chart New Course for Global Climate Cooperation in Durban, The Nature Conservency Blog 12.14.11
- Todd Stern’s Not-So-Excellent Day in Durban, Union of Concerned Scientists Blog 12.14.11
- The Durban Climate Deal Leaves a Blank Page, Oxfam Blog 12.13.11
- U.S. Falls Short At U.N. Climate Conference, Earth Justice Blog 12.12.11
- Important Progress at Global Warming Negotiations in Durban; Major Work Ahead, Natural Resources Defense Council Blog 12.11.11
- BREAKING: Hundreds Protest Inside UN Climate Talks in Solidarity with Africa and Small Islands, 350.org Blog 12.9.11
- Video Blog from Global Warming Negotiations in South Africa: It Always Seems Impossible, Until it's Done, Natural Resources Defense Council Blog 12.9.11
- Video and Statement from Climate Negotiations: Seize the Moment to "Get us Back on Track" and avoid Catastrophic Consequences, World Wildlife Fund US Blog 12.9.11
- The crisis is now, we don't have time to wait - video interview with Harjeet Singh, Action Aid Blog 12.9.11
- Emissions Transparency: High Priority for the US in Durban, Lower Priority at Home? World Wildlife Fund US Blog 12.9.11
- Will World's Nations Use Road Map To Fixing Climate Change?, Earthjustice Blog 12.9.11
- Signed, Sealed and Delivered: Backed by 21,000 Signatures, WWF and ActionAid Call for "Bold Steps" by U.S. Climate Negotiators, World Wildlife Fund US Blog 12.8.11
- Agriculture: From Durban to the World, Action Aid Blog 12.7.11
- Lessons of the Occupy movement for the climate talks, Friends of the Earth Blog 12.7.11
- As Ministers Arrive in Durban, Vision Remains Blurry, Union of Concerned Scientists Blog 12.7.11
- Durban: UN aviation agency touts green initiatives, but emissions reductions nowhere to be seen, Environmental Defense Fund Blog 12.7.11
- Video: Americans Feel Emerging Impacts of Climate Change, as U.S. Negotiators Show Lack of Urgency, World Wildlife Fund US Blog 12.6.11
- Dispatches from Durban: Lessons for Climate Negotiators from Africa Then and Now, World Resources Institute Insights Blog 12.6.11
- REDD+ Durban: Countries agree on key issues, Environmental Defense Fund Blog 12.6.11
- Boosting International Action on Climate Change: Over 130 Options as a Start, World Resources Institute Insights Blog 12.6.11
- Protect the Green Climate Fund, Friends of the Earth Blog 12.5.11
- Dispatch from South Africa: Youth Rally for Robin Hood Tax to Fill Empty Green Climate Fund, National Wildlife Federation Blog 12.5.11
- Big problems, easy solutions, Action Aid Blog 12.5.11
- WWF on Durban climate talks: We could end up legally bound to a 4° world, World Wildlife Fund Blog 12.5.11
- Durban: Stocktaking of CDM & carbon markets, UN Clean Development Mechanism Blog 12.5.11
- Different languages, same message - Global day of Action, Action Aid Blog 12.4.11
- Get on board Canada for Climate Justice, Action Aid Blog 12.3.11
- Video Blog from Durban Day 4 - Countries Starting to Draw Lines in the Sand, Natural Resources Defense Council Blog 12.1.11
- Video Interview: Global Warming Negotiations on Day 3 - the Mood, Waiting for Fireworks, and Expectations for the End Dynamics, Natural Resources Defense Council Blog 12.1.11
- Floods are Reminder of What’s at Stake at the Durban Climate Talks, World Resources Institute Insights Blog 12.1.11
- The Sierra Club in Durban: Day Five, Sierra Club Blog 12.2.11
- The Sierra Club in Durban: Day Four, Sierra Club Blog 12.1.11
- Happy Young and Future Generations Day!, Sierra Club Blog 12.1.11
- Secretary Clinton urged to not block process on global climate deal at UN Durban negotiations, Environmental Defense Fund Blog 11.30.11
- The Sierra Club in Durban: Day Three, Sierra Club Blog 11.30.11
- Rural women farmers speak out on climate change, Action Aid Blog 11.30.11
- SSC Delegate Finds Representation Among Youth at COP17, Sierra Club Blog 11.30.11
- Climate Extremes – New IPCC Report!, Union of Concerned Scientist Blog 11.29.11
- The Sierra Club in Durban: Day Two, Sierra Club Blog 11.29.11
- Conference of Youth Builds Energy for COP17 Negotiations, Sierra Club Blog 11.29.11
- How to Break the Deadlock in Climate Change Negotiations, The Guardian Kelly Rigg 11.28.11
- COP 17 Kickoff, Sierra Club Blog 11.28.11
- US: No More Denial!, CAN ECO Article 11.29.11
- Increasing Ambition & Common Accounting – What are you Waiting for?, CAN ECO Newsletter 10.4.11
- The Mandate, CAN ECO Newsletter 10.3.11
- U.N. climate talks: Environmental groups’ leaders criticize Hillary Rodham Clinton, The Washington Post Blog 11.29.11
- Oxfam and WWF join with shipowners to urge agreement on way forward for tackling greenhouse gas emissions from ships, World Wildlife Fund 11.29.11
- Durban climate talks begin with tragic deaths, Friends of the Earth Blog 11.29.11
- WWF: Canada stands alone on climate change, World Wildlife Fund 11.29.11
- New Briefing Paper: The failed promises of forest carbon finance, Friends of the Earth Blog 11.29.11
- Durban UN climate talks open to calls from African and world leaders for solutions, Environmental Defense Fund Blog 11.28.11
- Action now could double forests saved, World Wildlife Fund 11.27.11
- Durban UN climate talks could see modest, incremental progress; What to watch at COP-17, Environmental Defense Fund Blog 11.27.11
- Durban talks - an opportunity to move beyond political posturing, World Wildlife Fund 11.26.11
- Adaptation in COP17 Durban: Opportunities for Clarity and Consolidation, WRI Insights Blog 11.26.11
- COP17 and the Periodic Review: Putting Ambition Back at the Heart of the UNFCCC, WRI Insights Blog 11.26.11
- We're occupying the airwaves! | 350.org 350.org Blog 11.22.11
- From the Arctic to Durban..., 350.org Blog, 11.21.11
- What must global warming negotiations in South Africa accomplish (Part 1)?, Natural Resources Defense Council Blog 11.21.11
- That’s One Small Step for the IPCC; One Giant Leap for Understanding Our Climate Risk, Pew Center on Global Climate Change Blog 11.18.11
- Climate Finance at COP17 Durban, World Resources Institute WRIInsights, 11.18.11
- 5 Reasons to Send Youth to Climate Negotiations, National Wildlife Federation Blog 11.17.11
- What to Aim For, and Expect, at the UNFCCC Climate Talks in Durban, World Resources Institute WRI Insights 11.17.11
- The Sierra Club At COP17 in South Africa, Sierra Club Compass Blog 11.16.11
- Declaration for Survival, 350.org Blog 11.15.11
- African youth are caravanning to Durban for climate justice!, 350.org Blog, 11.9.11
- With Kyoto Set to Expire, All Eyes Turn to Climate Change Convention this Month, National Wildlife Federation Blog 11.9.11
- Limoges Rio + 20 preparatory conference, Pace Environmental Law School GreenLaw Blog 11.8.11
- Less than 1 month to go..., Sustain Us 11.5.11
- “Occupy” and the Climate Negotiations, EcoEquity, 11.2.11
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and EDF partner to show on-the-ground realities of reducing emissions from deforestation (REDD+) in Panama, Environmental Defense Fund Climate Talks Blog 10.25.11
- The Durban Climate Summit and the Future of Kyoto, Union of Concerned Scientists Blog 10.18.11
- Cape Town Meeting Must Get Design of Green Climate Fund Right Before Durban, World Resources Institute WRI Insights 10.14.11
- Hints from (beyond) Panama: What can global warming negotiations accomplish in Durban, South Africa? (Part 3), Natural Resources Defense Council Blog 10.7.11
- Confronting power with power in Panama | 350.org, 350.org Blog 10.7.11
- Painting by Numbers in the Panama Climate Talks, World Resources Institute WRI Insights 10.7.11
- Hints from Panama: What can global warming negotiations accomplish in Durban, South Africa? (Part 2), Natural Resources Defense Council Blog 10.5.11
- U.S. Gets a “Fossil of the Day” for Keystone XL at the Global Warming Negotiations – Even Global Warming Diplomacy is Being Tainted, Natural Resources Defense Council Blog 10.5.11
- US State Department Shaming Continues at UN | 350.org, 350.org Blog 10.4.11
- Hints from Panama: What Can Global Warming Negotiations Accomplish in Durban, South Africa? (Part 1), Natural Resources Defense Council Blog 10.4.11
Quick Click Guide (Useful Links)
Listed below are some helpful online tools and websites to follow during the negotiations.
US Climate Action Network
USCAN Facebook Page
USCAN Twitter @USCAN
Climate Action Network International
CAN-I Facebook Page
USCAN Twitter @CANIntl
UNFCCC
Official Home Page
Host Country Website
UNFCCC Facebook Page
UNFCCC Twitter @UN_climatetalks
UNFCCC Negotiator iPhone and iPad Application
For More information on the UNFCCC Process and Foundational Documents See:
UNFCCC Convention Text
Kyoto Protocol Text
Bali Action Plan Text
IPCC AR4 Synthesis Report
Early Submission of Information and Views, UNFCCC Calendar for Submissions
History of UNFCCC
UNFCCC: Handbook
UNFCCC: Essential Background
UNFCCC: Guide to the Process
UNFCCC: Glossary
CAN- I ECO Newsletter
- ECO 11, COP 17 12.08.11
- ECO 10, COP 17 12.07.11
- ECO 9, COP 17 12.06.11
- ECO 8, COP 17 12.05.11
- ECO 7, COP 17 12.04.11
- ECO 6, COP 17 12.03.11
- ECO 5, COP 17 12.02.11
- ECO 4, COP 17 12.01.11
- ECO 3, COP 17 11.30.11
- ECO 2, COP 17 11.29.11
- ECO 1, COP 17 11.28.11
Fact Sheets, Reports, & Policy Papers
- POLL: Do Americans support an international treaty on climate change?, Yale Project on Climate Change Communication
- A Stake in Durban: A Climate Deal For the 1% or the 99%? Action Aid, Friends of the Earth &; more Durban Assessment
Multimedia
- US NGO Experts Discuss Upcoming Climate Talk in Duban Recording
- U.S. Climate Action Network Durban Climate Talks Press Briefing, 12.7.11
