Ravishing Rattie. I cannot resist (I have tried) . I cannot resist in asking for details of what your feverish imagination concocts for other BH regulars.

Radical rodent

Do not call Gwendolyn a ridiculous name in Northern Ireland.

There are a number of them about, including a very effective Vice Principle I once worked under.

She is now retired, but would verbally eviscerate you for even suggesting such an idea.

EM, did you really work under a female Vice Principle? Clearly education in Northern Ireland had some interesting fringe "benefits"

I believe there are specialist websites for you to discuss that sort of thing.

Thanks Hilary

I'm a mere naif, and just catching up, stumbling along with my limited discoveries and thought processes in my own time.

However, many thanks for the link to your web-site - I loved the "hockey stick"!

Youth Crime Watch of Nigeria. I think I've got it now, thanks to Hilary Ostorv's hints. I found this on their website:

"...Youth Crime Watch of Nigeria, a program of African Centre for Citizens Orientation, an NGO in special consultative status with United Nations ECOSOC..."

Their website also tells us what their objectives are:

"The objectives of this movement among others are:

1. To enhance a crime-free, drug-free, violence-free environments conducive for learning and living.

2. To instill positive values, foster good citizenship and build self-confidence in our young people.

3. To enable youth to become resources for preventing crime, drug use and violence in their schools and neighborhoods."

Unimpeachable though those objectives are, it's still difficult to understand why they felt they had to send 5 people to COP22, other than to go to a jolly, given that their objectives seem to have nothing whatsoever to do with the objectives of COP22. The only possible reason can be that "...Youth Crime Watch of Nigeria, a program of African Centre for Citizens Orientation, [is[ an NGO in special consultative status with United Nations ECOSOC..."

Is this a good use of taxpayers' money? Does it achieve anything? Anything at all?

Perhaps the anguished discussion among the high-ups at the UN regarding their desperate (and very modest) budget reductions should focus a little more on rubbish like the above, rather than as they do at the link below:

http://www.un.org/press/en/2015/gaab4164.doc.htm

Mark Hodgson, they are very commendable aims.

Demonstrating to the Nigerian Youth that there is no need to turn to crime, if they can get free holidays for repeating Nonscience about Global Warming, does not encourage them to a life of honesty.

Verified Carbon Standard Association also attended COP22. The following from their website says it all, I think:

"Board of Directors
The VCS Board of Directors is comprised of leaders from a variety of sectors who bring their expertise and knowledge to the ongoing development of VCS. Working through a variety of sub-committees, VCS Board members oversee the finances of the organization, work closely with VCS staff to guide the direction of VCS, and are involved in specific strategic efforts.

John Drexhage, Chair

John is a senior fellow with the International Institute for Sustainable Development and Ecoresources, two Canadian based organizations that address issues related to sustainable development, climate change and energy. He is currently actively involved in the UN based post 2015 sustainable development negotiations. Prior to that John served as the climate change and energy management director with the International Council on Mining & Metals. He has also served as climate change and energy director for the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). Previously, John served as a senior negotiator with the Canadian government on international climate change negotiations and advised widely on regulatory systems ranging from domestic and international offset systems to carbon tax options. John brings to the board keen insight into the dynamics of international climate policy development and a dedication to linking environmental protection and economic development.

Marc Stuart, Vice Chair

Marc is founding managing director of Allotrope Partners and an original co-founder of EcoSecurities, one of the world’s largest developers of GHG reduction and removal projects. Marc brings to the board significant business development expertise and an in-depth technical understanding of the complexities of project development and the need for simplified and transparent procedures to enable large-scale investment.

Henry Derwent, Vice Chair

Henry is the former international climate change director for the United Kingdom. He has overseen UK delegations at international climate negotiations and G8 summits, and he has led the early development of UK carbon markets. He more recently served as president and CEO of the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA), one of the founding organizations of the VCS. Henry brings to the board valued insight into climate policies emerging worldwide.

Dirk Forrister

Dirk is president and CEO of the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA). He previously served as managing director of Natsource, as a senior official with the U.S. Department of Energy and as energy program manager at Environmental Defense Fund. He also served as Chairman of the White House Climate Change Task Force in the Clinton Administration. Dirk, an early contributor to U.S. climate change policy, brings to the VCS Board considerable skills and experience in energy policy and carbon markets.

Nathaniel Keohane

Nathaniel Keohane is a Vice President at Environmental Defense Fund, where he leads EDF’s International Climate program and helps to shape the organization’s advocacy for environmentally effective and economically sound climate policy. Nat’s areas of expertise include U.S. and international climate and energy policy, the economic impact of climate change, the benefits and costs of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and the design and performance of cap-and-trade programs and other policy instruments. Previously, Nat served in the Obama Administration as Special Assistant to the President for Energy and Environment in the National Economic Council and Domestic Policy Council. Before joining the Administration, he directed economic policy and analysis at EDF, playing a lead role in the efforts to enact comprehensive cap-and-trade legislation in Congress. Prior to EDF, Nat was an Associate Professor of Economics at the Yale School of Management.

Mark Kenber

Mark is CEO of The Climate Group, one of the VCS founding organizations. He brings to the board 15 years of experience on international climate policy, having served as a senior policy officer for WWF’s International Climate Change Programme, as planning director for Fundacion Natura in Ecuador and as an advisor to former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Ecuadorian government. Mark currently sits on the Climate Change Advisory Council at Zurich Insurance and the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change Steering Committee. He brings to the board wide-ranging expertise in environmental economics, emissions trading and global climate policy development.

Kenneth J. Markowitz

Kenneth, an attorney, is the President of Earthpace LLC and the senior clean energy and environmental consultant to Akin Gump Strauss Hauer and Feld. He advises leading public- and private-sector clients on a comprehensive range of energy policy, law and regulatory issues in relation to economic growth, energy security and environmental stewardship, both domestically and internationally. Areas of expertise include climate change, environmental markets, renewable fuels, energy efficiency, waste utilization, clean air, water and other environmental regulation. Mr. Markowitz serves as the Managing Director of the International Network for Environmental Compliance and Enforcement (INECE), a trans-governmental network, and as an adjunct professor at the Washington College of Law at The American University.

Ken Newcombe

Ken is CEO of C-Quest Capital and brings considerable carbon market expertise to the board. Ken led the World Bank’s work to establish the Prototype Carbon Fund, the first private-public fund to make significant investments in emission-reducing projects. He went on to manage the growth of eight carbon funds and to work for Climate Change Capital and Goldman Sachs. Ken brings to the board a breadth and depth of experience with all aspects of carbon market development, ranging from precise technical questions to broad conceptual issues.

Andrea Rudnick

Andrea Rudnick currently serves as the Latin America Liaison of Mitigation Action Plans and Scenarios (MAPS) Programme, where she oversees the analysis of the impacts of various policies and actions to address climate change across the region. Prior to joining the MAPS Programme, Andrea served as Head of the Climate Change Office at the Ministry of Environment of Chile where she led the Chilean delegation to the international climate change negotiations. From 2003 to 2010 she worked at Poch, one of Latin America’s leading engineering, environmental and sustainability consulting companies, starting as a Project Engineer and moving to become a Project Manager.

Bettina von Hagen

Bettina is CEO of Ecotrust Forest Management (EFM), an investment management company and subsidiary of the non-profit Ecotrust. EFM specializes in ecological forest management for investors and land owners, producing an array of forest products and services ranging from timber to biomass to forest carbon, while also producing jobs for local communities. Previously Bettina served as vice president of Ecotrust and vice president of First Interstate Bank of Oregon. She brings to the board an in-depth understanding of the forest sector, which is critically important given the sector’s growing role as a source of credible carbon credits.

Tao Yun

Tao is founder and CEO of ZBX Environmental Software Company, the leader in providing infrastructure for China’s carbon market. A renowned business leader within China, he was one of the youngest board members among all Chinese public companies and first elected global governor of Pacific Telecom Council from mainland China . Tao brings to the board his extensive experience in IT, telecoms, and investments in China and abroad."

It's difficult to get a handle on their funding. Their 2013 report (the most recent I could find on their website) just breaks it down as follows, with no further details that I could find:

"87% Levies
9% Grants
3% Fees
1% Other Income"

And in case the above didn't actually say it all, this probably does:

"October/November 2016 Newsletter
Dear Colleague,

I returned from COP22 in Marrakech with renewed hope and determination. The energy on the ground was positive and focused on implementation and continuing the momentum of events preceding the COP, such as the Paris Agreement entering into force and the passing of ICAO’s Global Market Based Measure. At VCS, we share this determination to continue to tackle climate change and to promote sustainability and are encouraged by international public-private initiatives like the Commodities/Jurisdiction Approach, which will promote forest-friendly supply chains and which recognizes adherence by jurisdictions to VCS’s JNR framework as one way of doing that. We are also excited about new streams of green finance, like the IFC REDD Bond. And we are proud to be working with countries and jurisdictions around the world that are creating vehicles for reducing and offsetting emissions, like South Africa, Colombia and the state of California. There will always be challenges to climate action, but we recognize past successes and keep working towards the future.

Sincerely,

David Antonioli

CEO"

I'll bet they're excited about new streams of green finance!

As above, Verified Carbon Standard Association, Henry Derwent, Vice Chair, recently served as president and CEO of the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA), one of the founding organizations of the VCS.

IETA sent 88 people to COP 22. Here's a flavour (from their website) of what they're getting up to (upcoming events):

IETA B-PMR & CECEP Workshop: China's National Carbon Market, 13 Dec 2016, Location Beijing, China. This event will not be able to be viewed virtually. (No opportunity to avoid CO2 emissions by participating virtually rather than physically, then. Good to see them practising what they preach...).

IETA-IATA Aviation Carbon Market Workshop. The two-day workshops are scheduled to take place in:

Nairobi, February 14 – 15 , 2017
Casablanca, February 21 – 22, 2017
Geneva, February 28 – March 1, 2017
Miami, March 14 – 15, 2017
Singapore, March 22 - 23, 2017

Africa Carbon Forum (ACF) 2017

Start 26 Apr 2017
End 28 Apr 2017
Location Cotonou, Benin

INNOVATE4CLIMATE - Finance & Markets Week: Jointly organised by: World Bank Group, IETA and Fira Barcelona

Start 22 May 2017
End 26 May 2017
Location Barcelona, Spain

ASIA PACIFIC CARBON FORUM 2017: ASIA PACIFIC CARBON FORUM is about the power of progressive business, finance and government coming together from around Asia Pacific and the world to meet the challenge: focused on solutions – inspired to innovate – and driven by business opportunities and partnerships.

Start 27 Jun 2017
End 29 Jun 2017
Location TBD (China or Thailand)

Etc etc etc...

Youth Crime Watch of Nigeria has been the subject of dreadful sceptic snark at Climate Scepticism

"Geoff, that PDF isn’t wholly reliable. For example, it says that one of the six-strong Sheffield Uni team is a young Finnish woman from a Nigerian NGO called Youth Crime Watch of Nigeria. Hmmm.

Look at the official listing for delegates from Youth Crime Watch in Nigeria towards the end of the PDF and things become a bit clearer by becoming even muddier: five delegates, one from Nigeria and four from New Zealand.

If nothing else, the PDF proves that it’s very hard to keep track of 25,903 (or even 25,902) people holidaying in the same resort at the same time.

Like
Vinny Burgoo says:
11 Nov 16 at 9:53 pm

Seven-strong, which you’d already spotted; and ‘surrounded by 25,901 like-minded people for a few days’.

Time for bed.

Like
Geoff Chambers says:
11 Nov 16 at 10:15 pm

VINNY BURGOO
Yes I had noticed some odd entries, though I didn’t notice that the Nigerian woman had a Finnish name. For example, the Association Of Bladi Women for Development and Tourism sent 6 delegates, five of them men."

Mark Hodgson 7:45 & 8:14, what is noticeable is that none of these highly paid individuals have done anything useful, for anyone but themselves. Some of them may find themselves having to send out CVs soon. Their list of actual achievements, rather than those they talked about, is not going to impress.

Off to re-education camp for diogenes for his cis-gendered microaggression. How dare he identify rather than let them self-identify?
==========

kim, asking attendees at a climate science party in Morocco to self identify their own sex could lead to some unfortunate amputations, possibly a few unpleasant surprises too.

Heh, gc, we missed out bigtime not electing Hillary. Lorena Bobbitt was her leading contender for Surgeon General.
============

diogenes

Thanks for the link. I had a look at the website for the Association Of Bladi Women for Development and Tourism, but couldn't find much of any interest. They seem to be heavily involved with Morocco, which might explain why they sent 6 people to COP22, but it's difficult to see any other reason for them being there, given their objectives. As Vinny Burgoo said, it's also difficult to see why 5 of their 6 delegates were men!

But this is COP22. As long as you're on the approved list, it seems anything goes.

Over at cliscep today from Geoff Chambers:

"Climatechangenews is the website of ClimateHome, “a leading source of news and analysis on the fraught international politics of global warming” which is funded by Responding to Climate Change Limited (RTCC) which is in turn financed by a number of commercial partners including the European Investment Bank, plus the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Energy, a number of Spanish Universities, and a Peruvian Goldmine.

Climate Home is also funded directly by eight organisations, including the Green Environment Facility, the Arab African International Bank, Amundi Smith Breeden Asset Management, and the Green Climate Fund, which is an offshoot of the UNFCCC, and which has assets of $1.8 billion."

Maybe I should have subtitled this thread "An Inconvenient Trough" (copyright Mrs H).

Martin A, EM taught science, not English.

Mark Hodgson, please keep digging! It is possible that you may ultimately find some one who has approved money to be used to help those who need help, rather than arrange meetings to talk about more meetings and the increased cost of chocolate biscuits.

Talking about Climate Science and nonexistent Global Warming, has cost Taxpayers billions, and millions their lives.

If Mrs Clinton had made it to President, and promoted Lorena Bobbitt, her first appointment might have been Bill.

OK golf charlie, just for you.

FEDERATION OF YOUNG EUROPEAN GREENS.

To support our educational and administrative work, FYEG is a funding beneficiary of the Council of Europe through the European Youth Foundation, the Erasmus+ Programme, the Green European Foundation, the Greens Group in the European Parliament and from the European Green Party.

From the Treasurer's Report Jan 2015:

"Reimbursements
- The office is dealing with the final reimbursements from the events which took place at the
end of 2014 (Twinning Cities meeting and the alter-COP20).
4. Additional information
● Good news from December 2014: We got the funding for Spring camp (European Youth
Foundation); the funding for the Migration seminar (Erasmus+) and a project about Climate
in Eastern Europe we applied through a GEF call together with GEF got approved!"

FYEG Delegation at the COP22 includes the following with their little potted brainwashed biographies. I'll omit their email addresses, which in many cases they provide:

Anton Jaekel is from Germany and has attended lots of UNFCCC-meetings since 2011 in Durban, South Africa. He studies political and sustainable human science in Lüneburg and since November last year he is the International Officer of Grüne Jugend. He will not only focus on the negotiations but also work on connections with other NGOs. He will follow the overall negotiations broadly and specifically focus on Human Rights as well as on Loss & Damage.

Mitja Mieskolainen is from Finland and works as a security specialist in the Helsinki area. He's been active in the Finnish Green Party for almost three years now and is the chairperson of the Helsinki Young Greens. Mitja went on the activist side of UNFCCC COP21 last year to witness and influence the forming of the Paris Agreement, which was a wonderful moment for climate activists. Now it is time to ratify the agreement and to double the efforts in reducing carbon emissions. Climate change is the biggest existential risk to all known life in the universe and preventing it should be the top priority of everyone.

Sabrina Chakori holds a bachelor in Biology and a Master in Environmental Economics. She redirected her interests from science to economics, convinced that to solve the interlinked social and ecological crises that we are facing, we need to change the root of our economic system.In the last 10 years, Sabrina has been active in many NGOs and in politics in Switzerland, she has been president of the Young Greens in Ticino. Moreover, she volunteered in many parts of the world such as in Europe, Australia, Kenya, Mexico and Ecuador. With the purpose of improving the economic system, and therefore all the externalities linked to it, in 2016 she became the youngest certified Caring Economy Advocate in Australia (Center for Partnership Studies – USA).

Kim van Sparrentak is from the Netherlands and has been involved in FYEG for five years now. At the moment she is one of the co-coordinators of FYEG's climate change working group. She studied political science with an environmental science minor and has an MSC in Urban Environmental Management. She has a passion for making cities more sustainable and you may find her taking pictures of recycling systems or open water drainages when you least expect it. Currently, she is working for Friends of the Earth the Netherlands on their transport and air quality campaign. She has a big interest in climate justice issues and intergenerational equity.

Natasa Ioannou lives in Cyprus where she works with Friends of the Earth Cyprus and campaigns for environmental justice. Her educational background is in Biology, Marine Environmental Management and in Environment, Politics, and Globalisation. She is a board member of the Young Cyprus Greens for the past two years, engaging with Climate change and climate justice issues. She has a passion of organising actions and campaigns. This is the first time she will participate in an FYEG COP delegation and she is looking forward to put pressure in the political debate and relieve the climate.

Danika Formosa is from Malta and is reading for a Degree in Environmental Engineering. She has been involved with local environmental NGOs and different green initiatives for the past few years. She is the International Secretary on the board of the Maltese Young Greens. She is very enthusiastic about climate issues, waste management, fisheries, law and environmental economics. She enjoys participating in campaigns and coming up with new ideas and strongly believes in education and climate justice. She is looking forward to her first experience at COP22, to expand her knowledge and engage with different people.

Hanna Lidström is a 22 years old young activist and she is the spokesperson for the Young Greens in Sweden. She likes climate justice, public speaking, and playing soccer! She is interested at COP22 because she wants to be a part in turning the Paris Agreement into reality and she thinks that NGOs have a great role in that.

What a shame such well-meaning young people are wasting their lives and increasing their CO2 emissions in this way.

Mark Hodgson, thank you for that. It makes very depressing reading, along with your final comment. I doubt many of these zealots would know which way up to plant a tree, but would try to milk a bull with great enthusiasm, and unexpected consequences.

I love the term "climate activists". It is so meaningless, but describes their work so well.