Fellow information
Maria Clara Valencia
María Clara is a Colombian journalist with a background in literary studies and a strong interest in the environment. She holds a Bachelor’s in Literary Studies, a Graduate Specialization in Journalism and a Master’s in Mass Communication. Her academic background has been strengthened by broad international experience (in the USA, Europe and Latin America) in journalistic research and various media. Over the past years, María Clara has worked as a freelance, based in Colombia. She covers different topics, including the environment, energy and climate change.
Posts by Maria Clara Valencia
More nations claim climate-vulnerability as battle for limited funds begins
No commentsThe competition for access to climate finance has begun, with nations arguing hard that they are the most vulnerable and should be first in line for the money.
»Do US-Venezuela smiles offer hope for climate-change talks?
No commentsDespite a sense of goodwill among climate-change negotiators at the UN’s annual conference, there is little to show after the first week of talks.
»Long Haul Ahead for Climate Talks
No commentsCristiana Figueres, the new head of the UN Climate Change Convention, thinks the world may have several more decades to wait for agreement on cutting greenhouse gas emissions – time which many scientists say is simply far too long.
»Rich ‘do too little to slow temperature rise’
No commentsPromises by rich countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions made at the Copenhagen climate summit will fail to prevent catastrophic climate change, warned the World Resources Institute.
Together, the commitments made by developed countries by Jan. 31 mean global emissions would fall by between 12 and 19% by 2020, but scientists say cuts between 25 and 40% are needed. The WRI says the promises so far will see the global average temperature rise by more than 3C, even though one of the most important achievements of the Copenhagen climate talks was agreement to keep the increase below 2C. This article examines the results of the summit, analyses Colombia’s participation, and looks at the prospects for the next round of talks in Mexico in December.
»Colombia’s Indian communities join forces to beat drought
No commentsColombia’s indigenous peoples are working together to create an adaptation plan against climate change, which will bring together their own traditional knowledge with outside help from other agencies.
»Columbia vulnerable as time on talks runs out
4 commentsHopenhagen could become Brokenhagen is there is no agreement this week. Colombia hasn’t had its demands of funding for adaptation and mitigation fulfilled. Poverty is not the only aspect to take into account to measure vulnerabilty, the country´s delegation says. Melting glaciers, rising sea levels, and a huge amount of people living in the high mountains with lack of water, are problems that make Colombia very vulnerable to climate change.
»Colombia committed to dealing with climate change
No commentsCarlos Costa, Colombian Minister of the environment says that now the country’s objective are in the hands of Alvaro Uribe, the Colombian president. “We need his leadership to get the backup from the different countries in our proposals”, he said. By showcasing some of its climate change projects at the Summit, Colombia wants to highlight its commitment.
»Climate talks halfway but no end in sight
No commentsThe so called ‘Danish Document’, leaked in the first week here in Copenhagen, caused much heated speculation and attracted a flurry of counter-proposals. Everything can happen in the second week, but for now there is no light at the end of the tunnel for an agreement to be signed in Copenhagen.
»Most forests fall from intensive farming
No commentsColombia, with other countries, is negotiating between US$15 and $25 billion per year from rich countries for taking care of its forests. The Centre for International Forestry Research launched a study about how to stop deforestaton through payment systems for conserving the forests and called for agreement on this issue.
»Biodiesel – a positive answer to climate change?
No commentsThe expansion of palm plantations in Colombia is causing concern among environmentalists who fear they may take land from natural forests. But others argue that the crop can and should be grown sustainably.
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