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Your daily must-read during the UN climate change summit in Paris | COP21 Day #3
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If you’ve tuned in to the news over the last few days, chances are you’ve come across an interview with David Attenborough, the world-famous naturalist and documentary maker... and former climate change skeptic. Attenborough is redeeming himself in Paris by pushing the Global Apollo Programme, which could unleash $150 billion by rallying governments around a common goal — to switch the world to clean energy in just 10 years — much like the United States put a man on the moon in 1969. CNN’s Christiane Amanpour was one of the journalists to speak to Attenborough.
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Meanwhile, twenty countries have vowed to double funding in clean energy research to a more modest total of $20 billion over five years, Science|Business reports. But the countries in the ‘Mission Innovation’ initiative represent 75 per cent of the global carbon emissions from the electricity sector. The group includes some of the biggest emitters in the world — Brazil, China, India, the US among others — as well as some of the biggest renewables advocates, such as Denmark and Germany. The initiative is complemented with the high-risk investment group led by Bill Gates.
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In a case of good COP bad COP, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi has launched an international solar alliance of over 120 countries this week — while also saying that climate change is not India’s fault and that it should be allowed to burn more fossil fuels to catch up with industrialised nations. According to the Guardian, Modi described his solar alliance as “the sunrise of new hope,” but an article in the New York Times highlights that Modi is playing it though at COP21. This week’s massive clean energy investment announcements by other players are partly intended to keep countries like India on board.
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In an act of climate justice, and to win crucial support for a deal — Africa contributes little to climate change but is particularly vulnerable to its effects — French president Hollande has announced that he plans to spend billions of euros in renewable energy in Africa over the next five years. The Guardian reports that France will double investments in projects ranging from wind farms to solar power and hydroelectrics across the continent to €2 billion between 2016 and 2020. In addition, Hollande said Paris would triple to €1 billion a year by 2020 its contribution to Africa’s battle with desertification and other climate change challenges.
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Scroll Down for Social Media Highlights
 Scroll down for COP21 social media highlights, including behind the scenes photos of VIPs. Today's Daily Planet also brings you insider tips from Le Bourget where the negotiations are taking place, our poll of the day about the role of business in solving climate change as well an overview of climate innovation events in Paris and a flashback to how we made it to Paris. Not a subscriber yet? Subscribe today!
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Insider Tips from the Summit in Le Bourget
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The Daily Planet's latest insider tips, brought to you by Climate-KIC's observers at the COP21 negotiations.
- Enjoy your commute: You meet all kinds of interesting characters on the RER B train, which runs between central Paris and Le Bourget. Take Sustaina Claus (video), for example!
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- It's not all about policy: The atmosphere is great, there is a real sense of opportunity. Coffee is good, WiFi is ok, printing is free and everyone is very helpful. You can get by if you don’t speak French. Lots of amiable police around as well as reusable and recycled coffee cups!
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Top 3 policy event tips:
- This morning at 8:30, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development hosts a discussion on financing climate technology transfer and private sector engagement (PDF), including speakers from the Rocky Mountain Institute and the International Energy Agency.
- Find out how the EU works on climate adaptation at 12:30 in a session ranging from policy and financing to concrete adaptation efforts organised by the European Commission's Climate Action department.
- For a perspective from the Americas: Join a cross-cutting talk on financing, policy & practice at 15:00 with the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
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Business Attitudes: Poll of the Day
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A major survey will be released tomorrow. Over the last few months, Europe's C-suite business leaders were asked about their attitudes towards climate change — and the role of radical innovation.
As we await the results (if you're in Paris tomorrow, you can attend the announcement), we invite Daily Planet readers to take a stab at predicting some of the outcomes.
Yesterday's poll: 58 per cent of you expect that most European business leaders believe there are opportunities to reduce costs by responding to climate change through for example through energy efficiency.
Today's question: Do you expect that European business leaders believe there is a large amount of scope to evolve their business models to reduce resource consumption and carbon emissions?
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Climate Innovation at COP21
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Today in central Paris from 12:30 until 14:00.
High-level roundtable discussion during COP21 in Paris about Nordic collaboration and co-learning for the strategic climate challenges facing our urban environments.
More info >>
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Tomorrow in central Paris from 14:00 until 15:30.
At this event, the much anticipated 2015 survey on European business attitudes towards climate action “Sparking an innovation step change” will be released.
Almost fully booked: Register today
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No photos!: Anil Kumar tweeted this COP21 snap of Prince Charles, UK prime minister David Cameron and, just about creeping into the frame, Indian prime minister Modi. Cameron, a former communications adviser, seems to be addressing the photographer.
"Prince Charles & UK PM David Cameron grab an opportunity for a selfie with PM Modi on the sidelines of #COP21," Kumar tweeted.
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Green transport: NPR's Eleanor Beardsley tweeted this photo yesterday.
"French police using 'green transport' at the climate conference in Paris!" she commented.
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Has anyone seen my brother?: UN climate chief Christiana Figueres couldn't find her brother — fomer Costa Rican president José María Figueres — and took to Twitter for help.
"I am looking for my brother @figuerescr. Has anyone seen him?" she tweeted yesterday.
Later, she tweeted a selfie with her brother saying: "We found each other. Thanks Twitter! @figuerescr."
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Daily #JourneyToParis Flashback
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#JourneyToParis:
We have arrived!
 Following a virtual journey that started in June, we have arrived in Paris and now keep you up to date with daily reports from COP21.
Find out how we got here by checking out our Journey to Paris, which took us across 27 countries. We put a spotlight on innovators who are already creating solutions across Europe.
We have an unprecedented opportunity to create a prosperous zero carbon future, driven by innovation, jobs, and investment. Climate-KIC is seizing that opportunity for Europe by connecting both public and private sectors with climate change-focused education, research and innovation. Join us!
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Get in touch
 Drop the Daily Planet newsroom a line if you have any questions or tips!
Contact our editors — based in Paris and London during COP21 — on Twitter or send us an email at media@climate-kic.org.
Connect with Climate-KIC's COP21 observers at the official UN site in Le Bourget: Tweet @krptndr or email andrea.karpati@climate-kic.org.
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EDITORIAL: Executive Editor: Angela Howarth | Editor in Chief: Peter Koekoek | Editor, Events: Kelsey Hunter | Editor, Social Media: Molly Redmond | Reporter, Le Bourget: Andrea Karpati
PUBLISHER: Climate-KIC, the EU's main climate innovation initiative © 2015 Climate-KIC
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