The global climate conference kicks off today in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt and will consist of two weeks of ‘climate negotiations’ as countries around the world continue to struggle with cutting greenhouse gas emissions. There’s also the various elephants in the room; war in Europe, inflation jumping like a 90’s house party, and a looming global energy crisis.
Mind you this is an annual UN conference, they put on this little show year after year. At last year’s summit in Scotland, countries agreed that they must immediately do more to prevent a dangerous rise in global temperatures. Seems like the kind of meeting that could’ve been an email really. I don’t expect Biden or any other world leader to propose or commit to any real climate policy changes, I’m just curious how bad the show will be. Tension between rich polluting countries like the US and poor nations bearing the brunt of climate impacts over the question of who should pay the costs of global warming are expected to mark this conference, so I’m waiting for news of the representative from Barbados slapping the taste out of some dignitaries mouth.
There are two main sites for the conference: the Blue Zone and the Green Zone. The Blue Zone is based at the Sharm el Sheikh International Convention Center and is where the official negotiations will be held. This luxurious space will be managed by the United Nations, and is subject to international law.
Just down the road in the Peace Park Botanical Garden will be the Green Zone. That area will be open to the public and will be run by the Egyptian government. Any protests or actions in demonstration against this waste of time will likely be punished with harassment, detention or disappearance, depending on who the violating parties are. I’ll be interested to see if any of the ongoing calls for the release of political prisoners in Egypt are addressed. Interested, but not hopeful.
Side Items
I Watched So You Can Maybe Also Watch?: Despite the fact that spooky season is obviously behind us, I spent time this weekend watching It and It Chapter 2, films that I’d overlooked when they came out a few years ago. Reader let me tell you, these are some solid horror movies! I won’t claim the films are super gruesome or terrifying, but they manage to incorporate genuine fears that children of all backgrounds feel. I’m giving the series a solid 7.5/10 overall
He Just Wanted Some Candy: Aaron Carter, the former child singer and actor who briefly enjoyed time as a teenage heartthrob in the early 2000s, was found dead on Saturday at his home in Southern California. He was just 34 years old. Aaron was known for his hit songs “I Want Candy”, and “How I Beat Shaq” (in which he allegedly challenges and then defeats Shaquille O’Neal in a game of one on one), as well as featuring in a prominent role on that holiday episode of Lizzie McGuire (you know the one)
At Long Last: The baseball season came to a welcome close last night, as the Houston Astros beat the Philadelphia Whatevers and blessedly gave us all the opportunity to stop watching baseball. Good news, the World Cup kicks off in exactly two weeks. Bad news, the World Cup kicks off in exactly two weeks. Stayed tuned for more soccer coverage than you could possibly desire