Just two agenda items are gaining traction as the second week of negotiations to create a binding international climate agreement at the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change in Durban, South Africa, nears a close, says a Duke University professor participating in the conference. Brian MurrayMurray is the director for economic analysis for Duke's Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions. He researches the economics of climate change policy, and is part of an effort to develop protocols and methods for reduced emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+).Background: http://www.nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/people/murray/Video: http://ondemand.duke.edu/video/30284/considering-climate-change
Quotes:"Following the initial agreement in Cancun, there has been progress on the development of the Green Climate Fund. The agreement on principles is solid, but negotiators are trying to hammer out more specifics on how the fund will be implemented and allocate moneys to help developing countries adopt low carbon technologies and adapt to climate change. The fund requires pledges from developed countries, but the pledges will require future fulfillment, which will remain its most uncertain element after Durban."REDD+ is an area where countries have wide agreement. Forest loss accounts for about 15 percent of global emissions, and occurs primarily in tropical developing countries. The REDD+ agreement would allow these developing countries to be compensated monetarily for reducing forest loss, primarily with funds from developed countries. What remains to be negotiated is whether developed countries will be able to use the REDD+ emission reductions they pay for to meet their own emission targets via a global carbon market."