Institute to Participate in Durban Climate Talks

November 29, 2011

FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, November 29, 2011

CONTACT:
Erin McKenzie

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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