JOHANNESBURG 19 JANUARY 2023

South Africa’s military announced on Thursday that it plans to hold joint training exercises off its coast next month with Russia and China, a move criticized by the United States, which has been trying to rally other countries to isolate Russia over the war in Ukraine.

China is part of an alliance with Brazil, Russia, India and  South Africa, — known as BRICS, designed to combat the G7: European Union, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, and the United States. Quite literally, these two alliances divide the planet in two, as opposing forces. Where the G7 are reliant on BRICS for tea, coffee and aluminium, China tactically buying into mining ores in a big way.

The naval drill is a show of diplomatic independence for South Africa, analysts said. South Africa is part of an alliance with Brazil, Russia, India and China — known by the acronym BRICS — and this naval exercise reasserts South Africa’s position that it will not allow the conflict between Russia and Ukraine to dictate its diplomatic relations.

BRICS may not be a military alliance like NATO, but it is still presenting itself as a “countervailing force to the West.”

Against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine war, the exercise has taken on “a stronger ideological importance at a political level,” Mr. Olivier said. He added that it would have been more “sensible and pragmatic” if South Africa had postponed the exercise.

China is playing both sides of the fence, selling (labour cheap) goods to the West, fueled by coal powered electricity generating stations, but siding with BRICS against their paying customers. India, being in much the same situation.

JANUARY 2017

Xi Jinping, the President of China gave an important speech in Geneva in January of 2017. He argued that the world must not allow the Paris climate deal to be “derailed”.

Demonstrating the neat turn of phrase associated with his predecessor, Deng Xiaoping, President Xi said:

“Clear waters and green mountains are as good as mountains of gold and silver. We must maintain harmony between man and nature and pursue sustainable development.”

This speech may come as some surprise to some, given the role that coal-fired power stations have played in China’s economic development. In fact, China has been exploring the green economy for some time. The TUC report, ‘The Way of the Dragon’ (pdf), published in 2013, described how sustainable development has risen up the political agenda in that country. China’s Twelfth Five Year Plan, designed to run from 2011-2015, emphasized high quality growth, including issues such as sustainability, pollution, intensive energy use and resource depletion.

A leading Chinese economist, Dr Hu Angang, who was interviewed for this research, had called for China to move from being a “black cat” to a “green cat”. Playing on Deng’s famous phrase, “It doesn’t matter if China is a black cat or a green cat, so long as it catches mice”, Dr Hu set out how China can move from an economy based on “black fuels” i.e. coal and oil, to one supported by “green fuels”, i.e. non fossil based sources of energy.

Of course, there are major concerns about the wider nature of the Chinese economy and society. We stand shoulder to shoulder with those campaigning for human and democratic rights in China, including the right to join a free trade union. Many are strongly opposed to the ‘dumping’ of Chinese steel and have argued against China being given market economy status, which would allow Chinese goods, in the absence of free collective bargaining and supported by state subsidies, to be sold below cost in Europe, including the UK. But if China makes a positive move, such as defending the Paris Agreement for the good of the planet, that move might still be welcome.

Powering Ahead emphasises the need to build consensus across political parties, business organisations and trade unions in favour of a sustainable industrial strategy. This means the strategy must balance economic, social and environmental concerns. This is why we call for a fair or just transition, so that as older, more polluting industries are replaced with newer, cleaner ones, there is an emphasis on job creation and retraining for those whose jobs will disappear as part of the transition.

In particular, there is a need for a study into the technologies and industries that the UK would need to bring Britain up to 50 per cent of the UK’s energy coming from renewable sources by 2050. Those new industrial sectors should be targeted on those communities that lost their livelihoods with the demise of heavy industry.

We live in times of great change and great risk, but also great opportunity. The world has woken up to the reality of climate change. It is still waking up to the economic opportunities, as well as the costs, of this phenomenon. China is seeking to make the most of those opportunities.

China, is apparently, much aligned with Russian in many ways, as Vladimir Putin invaded the Ukraine. Bringing the world closer to potential all out thermonuclear World War Three. A rather drastic way of reducing global population. But, hey, we are headed for virtual human extinction from climate warming. So, maybe the quicker alternative is preferred. It has happened before in Earth's history. Dinosaur remains are proof that the planet can stage a comeback. With new rulers, who might actually heed the failings of this century.

CHINA'S CONCENTRATION CAMPS FOR MUSLIMS

In February 2019, Mohammed bin Salman defended China's Xinjiang re-education camps for Uyghurs and Muslims, saying "China has the right to carry out anti-terrorism and de-extremisation work for its national security." Mohammed's comments received severe criticism worldwide. The Chinese Communist Party has imprisoned up to 2 million Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities in China's north-western province of Xinjiang in concentration camps, where they are allegedly subjected to abuse and torture. Miqdaad Versi, spokesperson for the Muslim Council of Britain, called Mohammed's remarks "disgusting" and a defence of "the use of concentration camps against Uighur Muslims".

WHAT HAPPENED AT COP 28 - The rate of temperature rise is way out of control, with countries like India, increasing oil production, instead of investing in clean electricity. Narendra Modi may be banking on the fact this his country is used to higher temperatures, so may be able to brave the scorched earth that his policies appear to be creating. India is also addicted to coal, so well and truly satiated with fossil fools. Sanctions should be applied to anyone employing Fordist: Red Growth tactics. China has been going at it bull-at-a-gate. Also, teetering economically with massive default on loans, from unsustainable property development schemes.

SO TO COP 28

COP 28 takes over the climate change baton from COP 27 at Egypt’s Sharm El Sheikh city. The twenty-eighth Conference of the Parties is due to take place from 30th November to 12th December 2023 at the Expo City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, UAE.

It is the wealthy billionaires who are giving nothing back. With politicians in the pockets of those contributing to party funds, to keep a dysfunctional system going. Hence, apart from a $Green-Dollar, we may also need a Wealth Tax. With such taxes going to pay off national debts, 100% transparently, and corruption free. If all countries unanimously declared a debt Moratorium, with each of them devaluing their currency, we'd have an inflation free world. Provided, that those doing so, stopped building:

1. Houses that reek of CO2. 

2. Cars and trucks that pump toxic greenhouse gases into the atmosphere

3. Ships that pollute the air

4. Factories that swallow electricity like there is no tomorrow

And, immediately:

5. Ban coal for domestic and export energy production

6. Embark on a wind turbine and PV farm building programme

7. Engage more proactively in electric and hydrogen infrastructure.

8. Plant more trees in sustainable fashion to exceed use threefold

9. Routinely monitor politicians and civil servants for bribes and favours using anti-money laundering algorithms

10. Sign up to a $Green or $Agri dollar, index linked to sustainable food and energy production

It won't happen of course. Because the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) are the greed driven culprits, who have engineered the present climate crisis, in fueling kleptocratic empire building. Instead of cautious restraint.

INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL MORATORIUM - Why not just cancel all debts, in return for pledges not to build any more houses, factories, vehicles and vessels, that are not 100% zero emission. The banks do not need the money - and it is only paper. They are the drivers of global warming. Just stop the clock! With Natioanal Debts cancelled, and all currency index linked to an $Agri-Dollar, there will be zero inflation. At least, that is the theory. But, we also need to hammer corruption in politics. Really and truly tighten against procurement fraud and cash for favours. Politicians would need to be digitally monitored 100% of the time, measuring assets against income.

UAE announces diverse leadership team for COP28, that will run at Expo City Dubai from November 30–December 12, focused on raising global climate ambition. The UAE will host COP28, the annual climate summit, at Expo City, Dubai, from 30th November - 12th December, 2023.

...

SIX (SUGGESTED) STEPS TOWARD A COOLER PLANET - FOR ENLIGHTENED NATIONS

1. TRANSPORT: Phase out polluting vehicles. Governments aim to end the sale of new petrol, and diesel vehicles by 2040 but have no infrastructure plan to support such ambition. Such infrastructure should exceed the performance of fossil fuel filling stations, prolong EV battery life and provide power grids with a measure of load leveling. Any such system should seek to obviate the provision of millions of fast charge points to include fuel cell cars, where implementation could otherwise prove to be a logistical nightmare. This may involve international agreement as to energy storage format and statute to steer OEM vehicle makers to collaborate as to future proofing, to include green hydrogen.

Marine transport can be carbon neutral given the right policy incentives, with phased transition in specific stages such as not to unduly penalize present investment in LNG shipping and other recent MARPOL compliant IC powered vessels. Future cargo vessel should be at least in part powered by renewable solar and/or wind energy, on the road to zero carbon, making allowances for technology catch-up. A scrappage scheme might encourage fleet operators to accelerate shipping upgrades, and a fund for radical innovation that would not otherwise qualify under in-situ programmes (such as Horizon Europe) might be introduced - with fast-track, reduced, form-filling and open-loop decision making, such that applications may be tweaked rather than struck out.

Air travel powered by kerosene should attract hefty mitigation offset, where low carbon alternatives should be encouraged such as electric air transport.

2. RENEWABLES:  Renewable energy should replace carbon-based fuels (coal, oil and gas) in our electricity for homes, factories, heating and transport. Coal and nuclear power plants should be phased out.

3. HOUSING: On site micro or macro generation is the best option, starting with new build homes that are both affordable and sustainable by design to replace crumbling housing stocks. Encourage building in timber to provide carbon lock from a renewable natural resource. Planning policies should be updated to outlaw unsustainable development, with harsh financial penalties for kleptocratic local authorities, especially those with a history of corrupt practices (from historic similar fact evidence files).

4. AGRICULTURE: We need to grow more trees to absorb carbon emissions from a growing population, unregulated/unrestricted air travel. New homes should be timber where practical as a priority. We should promote reductions in food waste and the eating of foods that use less energy to produce. Educate children on these matters in schools and via campaigns such as no meat Mondays, should be part of ordinary study. Polluted fish from fisheries, might be replaced with fish farmed by aquaculture inland, rather than risk carcinogens from our seas.

5. INDUSTRY: Factories should be aiming for solar heating and onsite renewable energy generation. EV parking and even service facilities should be part of new industrial estates as part of any building permissions - with subsidies or tax reductions as incentives to property developers.

6. POLITICS: - National governing bodies need to adopt rules to eliminate administrative wastages, to include scaling down spending on (showboat) war machines, increasing spend on educating the public and supporting sustainable social policies that mesh with other cultures. This includes fostering policies and making funds available to close links in the technology chain to make up for lost time. Kleptocratic empire building must cease in the search for natural equilibrium. Most important of all, corruption must cease in favour of 100% transparency, with politicians, civil servants and fraudulent procurement contracts, the subject of anti-money-laundering computer checks, using the same algorithms to combat terrorism. Because, corruption is the enemy of a truly sustainable Circular Economy, otherwise known as Blue Growth Economics.

COP OUT DIRTY DOZEN - IN ORDER OF CO2, METHANE GLOBAL % VOLUME & COAL FIRED INSANITY

1995 COP 1, BERLIN, GERMANY
1996 COP 2, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1997 COP 3, KYOTO, JAPAN
1998 COP 4, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
1999 COP 5, BONN, GERMANY
2000:COP 6, THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS
2001 COP 7, MARRAKECH, MOROCCO
2002 COP 8, NEW DELHI, INDIA
2003 COP 9, MILAN, ITALY
2004 COP 10, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
2005 COP 11/CMP 1, MONTREAL, CANADA
2006 COP 12/CMP 2, NAIROBI, KENYA
2007 COP 13/CMP 3, BALI, INDONESIA
2008 COP 14/CMP 4, POZNAN, POLAND
2009 COP 15/CMP 5, COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
2010 COP 16/CMP 6, CANCUN, MEXICO
2011 COP 17/CMP 7, DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA
2012 COP 18/CMP 8, DOHA, QATAR
2013 COP 19/CMP 9, WARSAW, POLAND
2014 COP 20/CMP 10, LIMA, PERU
2015 COP 21/CMP 11, Paris, France
2016 COP 22/CMP 12/CMA 1, Marrakech, Morocco
2017 COP 23/CMP 13/CMA 2, Bonn, Germany
2018 COP 24/CMP 14/CMA 3, Katowice, Poland
2019 COP 25/CMP 15/CMA 4, Santiago, Chile

2020 COP 26/CMP 16/CMA 5, Glasgow, Scotland

2021 COP 26/ Glasgow, Scotland 1-12 November

2022 COP 27/ Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, 6-18 November

2023 COP 28/ Expo City, Dubai, UAE, 30 Nov - 12 Dec

2024 COP 29/ Absheron, Baku, Azerbaijan 11 - 24 November

DESERTIFICATION COP HISTORY

BIODIVERSITY COP HISTORY

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