American petition closes on 10,000 mark 10 August 06

Dan Kellogg emails in with a tip for a petition currently running on the web, demanding ‘global warming leadership’ from candidates running for office in the upcoming November elections. Having just watched with mixed feelings as Joe Lieberman lost his primary race in Connecticut (although Lieberman’s stance on the Iraq war was spineless, his co-sponsoring of climate legislation in the Senate with John McCain has been visionary) I agree that putting climate higher up the electoral agenda is vital, even at this early stage. I’d encourage Americans to sign up – the petition is run by the excellent League of Conservation Voters. Those of us outside the Empire’s official boundaries had better keep our opinions to ourselves, however, and keep quiet…

News also reaches me from the UNFCCC that a new Executive Secretary has been appointed, following the sad and untimely death of Joke Waller-Hunter in October last year. The new Exec Sec is Yvo de Boer, currently Director for International Affairs at the Dutch Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment. I have to admit I’ve never heard of the guy, so I can’t offer any insider tips on how effective he’s likely to be. Fingers crossed though.