GBM Blog Archive: December 2010

Final Remarks on Cancun: Women and Climate Change

December 17, 2010 - 09:15AM
Published by Peninah Muriithi

In the recently convened COP 16 in Cancun, the challenges women face, given they are on the front-lines of the climate crisis, was a major highlight as well as how gender factors in handling the challenges brought about by climate change. When natural disasters strike, they hit poor communities first and worst. Since women make up an estimated 70% of those living below the poverty line, they are most likely to bear the heaviest burdens. They, who regularly do the household work, cultivate the crops, collect the water and gather the fuel, are the most affected by climate change. But it should also be understood that women are vital to building resilience in poor communities.

Women and REDD+ in Cancun

December 16, 2010 - 04:55AM
Published by Francesca de Gasparis

The climate change talks are over for another year. Despite low expectations following the failure in Copenhagen, there was a progress in Cancun.

"Stop talking, start planting!"

December 15, 2010 - 05:05AM
Published by Kathryn Gelder

This week, Democracy Now highlighted a young German student, Felix Finkbeiner, founder of the youth-led organization Plant for the Planet. When he was just 9 years old, Felix was giving a presentation to his 4th grade class about climate change. Inspired by his research on Wangari Maathai, he had the idea to lead a movement to plant 1 million trees in every country around the world.

Networking at COP16

December 12, 2010 - 09:05AM
Published by Francesca de Gasparis

Talk of networking! COP 16 is one place that international networks are being created. At COP 16 there are approximately 15,000 participants. With such a number of people from all over the world and all with differing interests in the field of Environment and all from different sectors of Environmental field.

What is COP all about?

December 10, 2010 - 05:05AM
Published by Emanuela Piccolo

Climate negotiations can seem quite abstract sometimes. I'm here in Cancun, Mexico, where UN delegates from around the world spend hours debating details of complex regulations. Sometimes it seems that everyone has forgotten a crucial fact: the climate is changing much faster than these negotiations are moving.

GBM's side event at the COP16 climate change talks

December 9, 2010 - 03:05AM
Published by Francesca de Gasparis

GBM's official side event was held on Saturday 4th December. We were very honored to share this event with Mary Robinson, President of Realizing Rights and the Mary Robinson Foundation - Climate Justice. Mary was joined by women leaders to discuss strategies for women’s participation in decision-making on climate change.

Ready for REDD+?

December 7, 2010 - 09:00AM
Published by Francesca de Gasparis

The climate change negotiations COP16 in Cancun have entered their second week with the high level segment opening this evening. Last week country negotiators put forward their positions to draft text ahead of the ministers arrival this week.

Plant Trees in Honor of Friends and Family this Holiday Season

December 6, 2010 - 05:00AM
Published by Kathryn Gelder

During this holiday season, we invite you to make a donation in honor of friends or family that will benefit the Green Belt Movement’s programs in Kenya. Your generosity will help us provide hope of a greener and more sustainable future for communities across Kenya for generations to come.

Letter from Cancun

December 6, 2010 - 11:00AM
Published by Peninah Muriithi

I've never been to a COP before, but I certainly have felt and experienced the effects of climate change: in the drought that people face in my home country Kenya as a result of the disruption in rainfall patterns, and in the flooding that has seen lives lost, crops destroyed and cattle dying.