Posted by Julie-Anne Richards

I woke to the news that Australia is not in the worst drought in living memory - its in the worst drought in a millennium. Which is obviously bad news for the farmers, and bad news for Australians ... but will it force the Australian Government to take the action required on climate change to help avoid worse droughts?

The Europeans made a great presentation last night. They reinforced the need for a 2oC target if we want to avoid dangerous climate change AND they said that were absolutely, definitely going to make their targets in the Kyoto Protocol (to reduce their pollution by 8% of 1990 levels by 2012). Yay! Take that those who've said Europe won't reach their targets (you know who you are). You can download the European presentation here.

Australia won yet another Fossil of the Day today. This time for saying that adaptation funding shouldn't get in the way of funding for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) also called geosequestration. CCS, for those of you who are not familiar with it, is a process of burying carbon dioxide pollution in underground storage. It is still in testing phase, and is at least 10 to 15 years away from being commercial. You can see more about it at CANA's webpage.  The adaptation needs of developing countries (like African and Pacific Island nations) are far more urgent and important than UN and Government funding being spent on CCS. Especially important when we're in Africa, with side events galore on the impact of climate change on African nations.

But, on more frivolous matters. I've been really enjoying the bananas here. I'm eating bananas at breakfast, bananas at lunch and banana cake. Why the obsession about bananas? Well, as fellow Australians will know, bananas are about $2 each at home - thanks to the ferocity of Cyclone Larry. So, a little circularity. Climate change makes cyclones more intense, cyclones ruin the Australian banana crop, and whilst at a UN conference doing my best to stop dangerous climate change I get to enjoy cheap bananas. 

Lots of exciting things happening tomorrow - so expect a big blog from me. In the meantime, remember to check out ECO for the official story on what's coming up in the negotiations (see them here).

Note: the above is the opinion of Julie-Anne Richards, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Climate Action Network.