Institute to Participate in Durban Climate Talks

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, November 29, 2011

 

CONTACT: Erin McKenzie

(919) 613-3652
erin.mckenzie@duke.edu
 

DURHAM, N.C.—Political leaders, scientists and policy makers from more than 190 nations will gather in Durban, South Africa, this week with the goal of developing a binding international climate change agreement.

In their midst: Brian Murray.

As director for economic analysis at the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, Murray will represent the Institute at the meeting—officially known as the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

In Durban, Murray is scheduled to participate in a variety of events and educational activities concerning climate change. Among those include:

• Dec. 3: Murray will share background on blue carbon, or conserving carbon in coastal habitats for climate mitigation, as well as findings from the Institute’s work on the topic at Oceans Day—intended to highlight the direct link between climate change, the health of the oceans and human well-being. This will include three previous studies and a newly released piece on blue carbon finance.
• Dec. 3: Agriculture and World Development Day, Ritson Campus, Durban University of Technology. Murray will attend activities and inform attendees about the Institute’s agriculturally focused work.
• Dec 4: Forest Day. Forest Day 5 will seek to inform the UNFCCC global agenda and forest stakeholders on ways to implement an international funding mechanism for reduced emissions from deforestation forest degradation that produces social and environmental benefits, above and beyond avoided emissions (REDD+). At Forest Day, Murray will share work on forest carbon project risks that the Institute is performing for the World Bank’s Carbon Finance Unit.
• Dec. 5: The Institute and Evolution Markets will host an invitation-only reception for business, government and non-government officials interested in carbon market finance.
• Dec. 7: Managing Coastal Ecosystems for Climate Mitigation, Climate Change Response Expo, Rio Conventions Pavilion, 10-11:30 a.m. The session will discuss policy options for blue carbon.

The climate talks run from Nov. 28 to Dec. 9.

Follow Murray’s perspective on the talks through the National Journal’s Energy & Environment Expert blog. Nicholas Institute graduate assistant, Marta Darby, will also be blogging on The Water Log.

For more information on COP17, visit http://unfccc.int/meetings/durban_nov_2011/meeting/6245.php

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