TALLAHASSEE — Major publishing companies and authors have argued that a federal judge should deny Florida’s request to dismiss a lawsuit over the removal of school library books, saying a controversial state law violates First Amendment rights. Attorneys for the publishing companies, authors and other plaintiffs filed a document Friday that, in part, disputed a state position that selection of school library books is “government speech” and, as a result, is not subject to the First Amendment. “First, school libraries have not historically communicated messages from the state. Instead, school libraries have long served as vehicles to expose students to a broad array of ideas from authors who express unique, personal points of view. ... Second, messages conveyed in school library books are diverse and contradictory — not endorsed by the state, as government speech must be,” said the document, which responded to a Nov. 15 state motion to dismiss the case. Also, the plaintiffs’ attorneys wrote that numerous courts have held First Amendment rights exist in libraries. “Here, the challenged statutory provisions impose a statewide mandate from Florida legislators to librarians, educators, and school districts that has resulted in the removal of hundreds of books,” the document said. “These provisions eliminate the traditional discretion that librarians, schools, and school districts have had by requiring them to remove books that they had selected for library shelves based on educational criteria, community standards, and the value of each book as a whole.” Six publishing companies, The Authors Guild, five authors and two parents filed the lawsuit Aug. 29 in federal court in Orlando. It is one of a series of lawsuits stemming from a 2023 state education law and related decisions by school districts to remove books from library shelves or to restrict access. Related Articles The lawsuit centers on parts of the law (HB 1069) that seek to prevent availability of reading material that is “pornographic” or “describes sexual content.” In the Nov. 15 motion to dismiss the case, lawyers in Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office focused, in part, on the issue of library books as government speech. “When the government selects materials to make available in a public-school library, it conveys that, in its view, those materials are of the ‘requisite and appropriate quality’ and will ‘be of the greatest direct benefit or interest to the community’ served,” the motion said, partially quoting a legal precedent. “The government, through public-school-library staff, effectively controls this message because it exercises final approval authority over book selection.” Also, the motion to dismiss the case said the plaintiffs’ First Amendment claims “fail because the government does not generally violate the First Amendment when it withdraws a benefit that merely facilitates the exercise of a constitutional right.” “The First Amendment does not require the government to provide access to particular materials in public-school libraries or to have school libraries at all,” the state’s lawyers wrote. “The students are free to access those books elsewhere, and authors and publishers can still distribute their books to students through bookstores or other libraries.” The lawsuit names as defendants the State Board of Education and members of the Orange County and Volusia County school boards. In the filing Friday, the plaintiffs’ attorneys described as overbroad the part of the law barring access to material that “describes sexual conduct.” “The prohibition on books that contain content that ‘describes sexual conduct’ violates the First Amendment,” the document said. “This provision is overbroad because it encompasses any book with any content that describes sexual conduct without regard to the Supreme Court’s standard for content that is obscene for minors, which is not reasonable in light of the purpose of school libraries.” The lawsuit cited removals from library shelves of numerous books, such as “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison and “Love in the Time of Cholera” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Both of those authors were awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for their novels and other work. The plaintiffs in the case are publishing companies Penguin Random House LLC, Hachette Book Group, Inc., HarperCollins Publishers LLC, Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC, Simon & Schuster, LLC and Sourcebooks LLC; The Authors Guild; authors Julia Alvarez, John Green, Laurie Halse Anderson, Jodi Picoult and Angie Thomas; and parents Heidi Kellogg and Judith Anne Hayes. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza.BEIJING , Nov. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from chinadaily.com.cn : Representatives discuss hot topics faced by countries in digitalization China's forward-looking vision on the future development of the internet offers a glimpse into how cooperation can narrow the digital divide across the world, at a time when an economic slowdown and impeded globalization have stunted growth worldwide, said government officials and industry experts on Friday. They made the remarks at the 2024 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit that ended in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province on Friday. They also sought more global cooperation to advance the development of the internet in less-developed economies and enhance digital competence for all. Ren Xianliang, secretary-general of the WIC, said at a news conference, "More efforts should be made to help make the internet a new frontier for all parties to cooperate and continue to create more convergence of interests, growth points of cooperation and new highlights of win-win scenarios in cyberspace." "All parties around the world are expected to join hands to build a cyber world where human beings coexist, jointly create a digital future of win-win cooperation and make cyberspace better for all peoples of the world," he said. More than 1,800 representatives from governments, international organizations, industry associations, internet enterprises, universities and think tanks from over 130 countries and regions attended this year's summit, addressing some of the hottest topics faced by countries in digitalization. Teo Nie Ching , deputy minister of communications of Malaysia , said at the conference that digital transformation is not solely about technological advancement, but also a reflection of human values and actions. "As technology progresses, we must uphold a core principle of people-centered and holistic development to ensure that technological applications truly serve the common good and promote share to the progress," Teo said. A United Nations report found that 2.6 billion individuals globally still lack internet access and a sharp digital divide can also be observed among economies, among industries and between urban and rural areas. Although many less technologically advanced regions, such as Africa , possess a strong willingness to build an inclusive and equitable digital world, the rapid advancement of technologies often poses a huge challenge to developing countries — how to actively participate and keep pace with this growth, said Nii Narku Quaynor , chairman of Ghana Dot Com. Against this backdrop, reinforcing open access to internet channels, digital content and technologies can greatly benefit emerging economies in the digital world, he said. Eyeing a higher-level of inclusiveness, connectivity and cooperation in the internet sector, a statement on global digital cooperation was released by a sub-forum of the WIC. The statement highlighted the importance of advancing international cooperation on data exchange, enhancing cross-border data connectivity, and narrowing gaps in data circulation, as well as more initiatives to build an open and mutually beneficial international framework for data collaboration. Intensified efforts should also be made to deepen international exchanges on technology standards, ethical guidelines and legal frameworks, advancing a widely accepted global AI governance system, said the statement. It also called for human-centered and ethically sound approaches to cutting-edge technologies such as AI, encouraging safe, reliable, fair and transparent research and development as well as applications of AI. At the opening ceremony of WIC, Chinese Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang also stressed the need for the international community to jointly deal with problems such as the digital divide and a grave cybersecurity situation to build a better digital future. The digital divide continues to widen, and the situation of cybersecurity has become more severe, Ding said, adding that the international community is in greater need than ever of jointly advancing a community with a shared future in cyberspace. China has been sharing the opportunities of modernization with countries around the world and injecting strong impetus into global modernization, Ding said. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/china-set-to-narrow-digital-divide-302314740.html SOURCE chinadaily.com.cn
Madhya Pradesh: Congress Workers Demand Amit Shah’s ResignationThe Lakers' six-game win streak came to a frustrating end Thursday night against Orlando, leaving the team in low spirits according to guard Max Christie. The 119-118 loss, sealed by Franz Wagner's late three-pointer, dropped Los Angeles to fourth in the competitive Western Conference. Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images "It's a tough loss," Christie told ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "We were bummed out but we're onto the next game. We got Denver tonight, who is still a good team. We don't want to dwell on Orlando. So we turned the page and we're ready to go tonight." The defeat highlighted several ongoing concerns for the 10-5 Lakers. Poor free throw shooting (17-of-26), defensive rebounding issues (15 offensive boards allowed), and inconsistent role player production all contributed to squandering what should have been a winnable game. Wagner took full advantage, torching the Lakers for 37 points, 11 assists, and 6 rebounds on 50% shooting. In a Western Conference where 11 teams sit at .500 or better, these types of losses could prove costly. With LeBron James' window closing, the Lakers are reportedly exploring frontcourt upgrades, with names like Jonas Valanciunas, Walker Kessler, and Robert Williams III emerging as potential targets. The Lakers will look to bounce back tonight at Crypto.com Arena against their playoff nemesis Denver Nuggets (10:30 PM EST), before a challenging road back-to-back against Phoenix (Tuesday, 10:00 PM EST) and Victor Wembanyama's Spurs (Wednesday, 8:30 PM EST). Related: Stephen A. Smith Challenges LeBron's Media Criticism: "Not Wrong, Just Not Complete"
Stanford Professor Accused of Using AI to Write Expert Testimony Criticizing DeepfakesBy Trevor Hass, The Boston Globe In an unpredictable season filled with surges and setbacks, consistency has eluded the Boston College football team. The Eagles, who have been on the hunt for a complete game ever since a drubbing of Duquesne in Week 2, finally found one Saturday against North Carolina. BC dominated on both sides of the ball, running away with a resounding 41-21 triumph at Alumni Stadium. The Eagles (6-5, 3-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) intercepted three passes, stopped the Tar Heels (6-5, 3-4) on their first 10 third-down attempts, and commanded possession. Boston College is bowl eligible for the eighth time in nine seasons and has won five games at home for the first time since 2018. “It hasn’t been perfect, don’t get me wrong, but these kids have really worked hard for us,” first-year coach Bill O’Brien said. “I’m very happy for them. It’s very well earned.” On the 40-year anniversary of the Miracle in Miami , and with members of that team in attendance, BC put forth a throwback performance. O’Brien said he showed the final drive to his team Friday to hammer home what playing until the very end looks like. “There’s a lot of tradition here at Boston College,” O’Brien said. “For those guys to be here meant a lot to our program.” The Eagles played inspired, together football from the start. They orchestrated two methodical 13-play scoring drives to open the game, overpowering the Tar Heels at the line of scrimmage. The first drive ended with a 49-yard Liam Connor field goal that crept over the crossbar, and the second yielded a 3-yard touchdown run by quarterback Grayson James. Boston College did its damage primarily in the air in the first half. UNC prioritized stopping the run, and Lewis Bond (9 catches, 81 yards) and the Eagles took advantage. “We got things going early,” James said. “We played our brand of football.” A 24-yard touchdown run from Johnathan Montague Jr., on a well-disguised end-around, pushed the margin to 17-0 at 9:05 of the second quarter. North Carolina got on the board when Chris Culliver returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards to make it 17-7. BC ensured UNC didn’t keep momentum for long. After closing out the half poorly in a loss to Southern Methodist the week prior, the Eagles finished it with conviction Saturday. “We’ve had these leads throughout the season,” BC linebacker Joe Marinaro said. “We need to keep building those leads, make them insurmountable leads, and keep the foot on the gas. That’s something we know we’ve needed to improve on this year, and I think we did a really good job of that today.” Marinaro intercepted a Jacolby Criswell pass and returned it 18 yards to the UNC 32, eliciting the one of the most enthusiastic celebrations of the season from the BC sideline. Marinaro, a former walk-on who became a captain this season, continues to fill in admirably with BC short at linebacker. The pick paved the way for an 18-yard TD pass from James (18 for 27, 192 yards) to Reed Harris with 40 seconds left in the half. James aired the ball out past two defenders to where only the 6-foot-5-inch Harris could corral it. “I don’t think anything can replace experience,” James said. “I feel like I’ve gotten better every game that I played in, and every practice as well. Game reps are paramount. I’m comfortable with the guys out there, and they’re comfortable with me.” Donovan Ezeiruaku sacked Criswell on UNC’s next possession, and Carter Davis picked off a pass in the end zone to cement the Eagles’ 24-7 halftime advantage. BC neutralized star running back Omarion Hampton — who entered the day second in the nation in rushing yards — by holding him to 23 yards on six carries in the first half and 53 yards total on 11 attempts. The Eagles limited the ACC’s top running attack to -3 rushing yards in the half and held a 240-77 edge in net total yards, while dominating possession 20:33 to 9:27. Boston College kept it rolling early in the third quarter, as an Isaiah Farris 52-yard punt return set up a 27-yard Connor field goal to make it 27-7 heading to the fourth. The Eagles extended the margin to 34-7 with 12:38 left, when pressure from Neto Okpala led to a 78-yard pick-6 from Ryan Turner. “Ryan Turner has gone from the bottom of the depth chart to the top of the depth chart,” O’Brien said. “He’s earned it. He’s stuck with it. It hasn’t been easy for him.” Kye Robichaux (23 carries, 93 yards) added an 8-yard TD rush in the final minutes. UNC scored twice in the game’s last 2:09, on two rushes from Davion Gause, but the outcome had been decided long before that. The defensive line dictated the action, as the Eagles finished with seven sacks and kept Criswell out of rhythm. BC racked up 420 net total yards, to just 212 for UNC, as the Tar Heels averaged 1.4 yards per rush and had 13 total first downs. “The D-line played really well,” O’Brien said. “They probably played their best game.” It was just one game, but it showed how dangerous this Eagles team can be when everything is clicking. Boston College welcomes Pittsburgh (7-3, 3-3) to town next Saturday at 3 p.m. to close out the regular season . The Eagles have bigger goals, but this one served as a milestone as they know they’ll be playing into December. “We feel like we’ve left a couple weeks out there on the table,” center Drew Kendall said. “We just had to go out there and execute for a full 60 minutes, and that’s what we did today.” Get the latest Boston sports news Receive updates on your favorite Boston teams, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. Be civil. Be kind.
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SPIRIT Halloween is temporarily swapping out its staple spooky selections for a more festive line of merchandise. The chain is transforming several of its Halloween stores into Spirit Christmas stores - but fans noticed a mistake with the new store name. Spirit Halloween is the largest Halloween-focused retailer in the US , operating over 1,500 seasonal stores each year. The company is popular among Halloween fans for its huge selection of costumes, props, and gory finds. For the first time ever, Spirit Halloween is turning its store concept on its head and launching 10 Christmas-themed seasonal pop-ups. The Spirit Christmas stores will be located in malls and empty storefronts, some of which are currently Spirit Halloween locations. Read More on Christmas Many holiday enthusiasts were pumped by the new concept, with one on X calling the announcement the "2ND BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!!!" Here is the list of 10 Spirit Christmas locations: Waterford, Connecticut : Crystal Mall, 850 Hartford Turnpike Dartmouth, Massachusetts : Faunce Corner Shopping Center, 65 Faunce Corner Mall Road Brick Township, New Jersey : Market Place at Brick, 465 NJ 70 Marlton, New Jersey : 740 Route 73 South Mays Landing, New Jersey : Consumer Square, 230 Consumer Square Woodbridge, New Jersey : The Plaza at Woodbridge, 675 U.S. Highway 1 South Albany, New York : Colonie Center, 131 Colonie Center Bohemia, New York : Sayville Plaza, 5181 Sunrise Highway Poughkeepsie, New York : Chestnut Plaza, 2020 South Road Erie, Pennsylvania : Millcreek Mall, 345 Millcreek Mall Boulevard Some fans loved the idea so much that they wondered why Spirit Halloween hadn't capitalized on other holidays sooner. Others were disappointed that Spirit Halloween had missed a prime opportunity when naming its Spirit Christmas stores. "They could have called it Christmas SPIRIT and ate, but lost here," wrote one shopper. Most read in Money "Why is it not just called Christmas Spirit tho," said a second. GET IN THE SPIRIT The 10 Spirit Christmas stores are sprinkled across the Northeast, with locations in Connecticut , Massachusetts , New Jersey , New York , and Pennsylvania . The first store in Mays Landing, New Jersey, opened on October 18, and the remaining locations were scheduled to launch in early November. A Christmas enthusiast local to New Jersey visited the first store, documenting his experience in a YouTube video . He was immediately met with aisles and aisles of home decor, holiday apparel, and stocking stuffers. The YouTuber explored the unique experiences in the festive store, including an “Inflatable Land” for kids full of jolly Christmas inflatables. Shoppers can also visit the "Creepmas" section, featuring merchandise that blends Christmas and Halloween, as well as Gingerbread Lane, a life-sized gingerbread village. Holiday enthusiasts will also have the opportunity to meet Santa Claus and take pictures with him for a free digital postcard. Plus, they can mail their letters and wish lists to Santa at the North Pole. "We're hopeful it will resonate with our customers," the company said of the new store concept. "Our goal is to create a festive retail experience that captures the spirit of the season, much like we do for Halloween." Read More on The US Sun Christmas enthusiasts can further celebrate the season with a viral $9.99 Grump Tree from Trader Joe's . Or, head to McDonald's for a Holiday Pie - check if the "delicious" treat is available at your location.Police have deemed that a fire at an Ingersoll school was suspicious in nature. Students and staff at Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute were safely evacuated following the fire at the school on Friday morning. Crews were called to the school around 10:30 a.m. to reports of smoke. According to the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) the fire has been put out. The school will be closed for the rest of the day while restoration crews clear smoke from the building. Students evacuated to Ingersoll District Memorial Centre and parents who wish to dismiss their child for the day were asked to call the school attendance line or pick up their child directly at the arena. Bus transportation will be available at the regular end of day dismissal time from the Ingersoll arena. The school board has said at this time, staff and students are not able to get their personal belongings from the school. Classes are expected to resume Monday morning – however police say that they are looking for the people or person responsible for setting the fire. Anyone with information is asked to contact Oxford OPP at 1-888-310-1122. London Top Stories VIDEO | London house fire spreads to neighbouring property Western researchers document the sixth ever asteroid spotted prior to impact Charges laid after transport truck crash causes Highway 401 lane closure Volkswagen battery plant will drive economy, increase consumer confidence says economic think tank Police investigating following fire that prompted school evacuation at Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute One person dead after two-vehicle crash involving delivery truck Budget Day 1: Council holds the line on 7.4% tax rate increase but funds shelter beds and more park maintenance London man arrested after attempting to break into a home, threatening residents CTVNews.ca Top Stories 'Immoral depravity': Two men convicted in case of frozen migrant family in Manitoba A jury has found two men guilty on human smuggling charges in a case where a family from India froze to death in Manitoba while trying to walk across the Canada-U.S. border. Canada's tax relief plan: Who gets a cheque? The Canadian government has unveiled its plans for a sweeping GST/HST pause on select items during the holiday period. The day after the announcement, questions remain on how the whole thing will work. Quebec man, 81, gets prison sentence after admitting to killing wife with Alzheimer's disease An 81-year-old Quebec man has been sentenced to prison after admitting to killing his wife with Alzheimer's disease. Canada Post quarterly loss tops $300M as strike hits second week -- and rivals step in Canada Post saw hundreds of millions of dollars drain out of its coffers last quarter, due largely to its dwindling share of the parcels market, while an ongoing strike continues to batter its bottom line. Nearly 46,000 electric vehicles recalled in Canada over potential power loss Nearly 46,000 electric vehicles from Kia, Hyundai and Genesis are being recalled in Canada over a potential power loss issue that can increase the risk of a crash. Pat King found guilty of mischief for role in 'Freedom Convoy' Pat King, one of the most prominent figures of the 2022 'Freedom Convoy' in Ottawa, has been found guilty on five counts including mischief and disobeying a court order. Canada issues travel warning after 6 people die from tainted alcohol in Laos The Canadian government is warning travellers following the deaths of at least six people in the mass poisoning of foreign tourists in Laos after drinking tainted alcohol. Ground beef tied to U.S. E. coli recall, illnesses wasn't sold in Canada: distributor At least 15 people have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a recall of potentially tainted ground beef, U.S. federal health officials said. The company tells CTVNews.ca it was not sold in Canada. Canada's new income tax brackets in 2025: What you need to know The Canada Revenue Agency has released updated federal income tax brackets for 2025, reflecting adjustments for inflation. Here’s the breakdown. 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Marie After a year of struggle, centre that helps Sault youth to move to a building with heat $3M donation to help repair arena in Elliot Lake Sault College accounting students get a head start on their careers Ottawa BREAKING | Seniors facing 60% hike for OC Transpo monthly transit pass in 2025 under new proposal Woman seriously injured in October house fire dies in hospital, Ottawa police say Orleans man calls for changes after service guide dog attacked by another dog Toronto Trudeau announces funding to feed 160,000 Ontario students 3 charged in connection with collision between TTC bus and stolen BMW that injured 9 Toronto man onboard Blue Origin flight to space says he 'can't wait to go again' Montreal Quebec man, 81, gets prison sentence after admitting to killing wife with Alzheimer's disease Montreal family doctor admits to fathering child with 19-year-old patient Third suspect sought in killing of Montreal cryptocurrency influencer Atlantic What to know about the weekend rain, wind, and waves in the Maritimes P.E.I. teen sentenced to 2 years in custody in death of Tyson MacDonald Missing Nova Scotia senior found safe after emergency alert issued Winnipeg 'Immoral depravity': Two men convicted in case of frozen migrant family in Manitoba Human remains found in Manitoba community Bombers Mike O'Shea defends decisions made in Grey Cup loss Calgary Sixth person charged in Tara Miller's death Calgary under a snowfall warning, drivers warned to be prepared NCAA ruling big win for hockey players that gives them more options Edmonton What were those columns of light over Edmonton Thursday? 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PITTSBURGH -- The Steelers will be without their top wide receiver George Pickens on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles . Pickens is recovering from a hamstring injury incurred in the days before the Steelers' Week 14 win against the Cleveland Browns . He was ruled out in Friday's final injury report after not practicing all week. Pittsburgh also ruled out safety DeShon Elliott (hamstring) and defensive end Larry Ogunjobi (groin) after neither practiced all week. Editor's Picks Are the Chiefs the worst 12-1 team of all time? We ranked the bottom five 10h Aaron Schatz Our guide to every Week 15 NFL game: Matchup previews, predictions, picks and nuggets 6h NFL Nation Without Elliott, the Steelers have a significant void in their run defense as they prepare to face NFL leading rusher Saquon Barkley . "As next man up, I think we predicate ourselves as a defense that prides themselves on smashing the run," safety Minkah Fitzpatrick said. "So whether our top run defender is out or not, we still got to do that." Since being acquired in free agency earlier this year, Elliott has been a disruptive force in the secondary with one interception, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and six passes defensed. With Elliott out, the Steelers will rely more on versatile defensive back Cameron Sutton and safety Damontae Kazee to play alongside Fitzpatrick. "All the guys that we have in our secondary, we played a lot of ball together," Fitzpatrick said. "So when a guy does go down, it is comforting to know that we played a lot of ball with the next man up. So there's not a lot of communication or lack of trust there." Ogunjobi has 1.5 sacks this season along 37 tackles, including five for loss. He has also recorded seven quarterback hits. With Ogunjobi sidelined, the Steelers will lean on a combination of Dean Lowry , Keeanu Benton and Isaiahh Loudermilk to play up front with Cam Heyward. The Steelers also listed nose tackle Montravius Adams as questionable for Sunday's game, though he is still on injured reserve and would have to be activated Saturday in order to play.CNBC Daily Open: Small- and mid-caps outperformed last week
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The story so far: The 29th edition of the Conference of Parties (COP), arguably the most important of the UN’s climate conferences, was scheduled to end on November 22, after 11 days of negotiations, and take a collective step forward in addressing rising carbon emissions. However, deliberations are expected to carry on beyond the deadline with several sticking points outstanding. What is the significance of COP29? Going into the talks, developing countries had stated that at least a trillion dollars per year from 2025-35 would be necessary to meet emission targets. This was seen to be the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance which refers to money that will be given to developing countries by developed countries to help the former meet their goals to transition away from the continued use of fossil fuels and curb greenhouse gas emissions. Developing countries have been repeatedly saying that the figure should be “trillions of dollars.” To this end, developed countries have mobilised and transferred $115 billion in 2021-22 — a controversial clause that has yet to be resolved in the universal agreement — but per the Paris Agreement, a new target higher than $100 billion must be agreed upon by 2025. The talks in Baku were expected to conclusively agree upon a number but there continues to be a sharp split between developed and developing countries on the quantum and other basic aspects of what this NCQG should look like. What do developing countries want? This block of countries include China, India and the Group of 77 countries. There are also other coalitions such as the Like Minded Developing Countries (LMDC), Least Developing Countries (LDC), Small Island Developing Countries (SIDS) etc. Nearly all developing countries fall into one or multiple groupings and while they have differences, they are largely agreed on the point that it is the developed countries that should pay the bulk of climate finance. More importantly, they specified that this money had to be provided not only to help countries meet their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) but also buffer against existing threats of climate change, and make good for climate damage already wrought. The NDCs are targeted, voluntary plans by all countries to reduce carbon emissions by certain quantities until 2030. The NCQG, the developing countries say, should also reflect contributions by developed countries on the basis of their historical contribution to existing carbon concentrations in the atmosphere as well as their per capita GDP. To put this in perspective, it is important to note that even if all countries fulfilled their stated voluntary commitments, it would as of now only translate to a 2% cut, and this year — the latest scientific assessments suggest — carbon emissions will likely increase 0.8% over 2023. What does the developed world say? However developed countries, led by the European Union, say these demands are unreasonably high. They aver that “all actors” (read countries) should collectively work to hike up climate finance to $1.3 trillion per year by 2035. While agreeing that they must “take the lead” they have only a set a goal of $250-300 billion by 2035 per year. Moreover this would consist of a “variety of sources,” including “public and private, bilateral and multilateral, and alternative sources.” Related Stories Climate-threatened nations stage protest at COP29 over contentious deal Finance deadlock pushes COP29 to brink of failure U.N. rules for carbon trading between nations approved at COP29 climate talks This suggests that another major demand of the developing world, of ensuring most of the money is in the form of grants or low-cost loans, remains unmet. Have any concrete agreements been made? A week before the conference began, China had petitioned the Presidency of COP29 to discuss “climate-change related unilateral restrictive trade measures” at the conference. This is an unusual request as trade issues are discussed on forums such as the World Trade Organization. China proposed this as part of a grouping of countries called BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India, China). The petition is primarily directed at a European Union proposal called the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which imposes a tax on products imported into the EU that don’t conform to carbon-emission norms required by the Union. The CBAM is currently operating in a “transitional phase” but will come into full effect from January 1, 2026. The first day of the conference saw an agreement on carbon markets to be supervised by the UN. Such a market would allow countries to trade carbon credits — certified reductions of carbon emissions — among themselves and whose prices are determined as a consequence of emission caps imposed by countries. The market itself follows from a section in the Paris Agreement, called Article 6. Sub- sections within the Article spell out how countries can bilaterally trade carbon among themselves (Art 6.2) and participate in a global carbon market (6.4). Though most of the necessary nuts and bolts to make operational such a carbon market, supervised by a United Nations body, were in place since 2022, there were several niggles, particularly on ensuring that the carbon credits generated are genuine and its antecedents are transparent. While there is criticism among environmentalist groups that enough discussions on this didn’t take place, this is supposed to be a mechanism to facilitate climate finance. India has been discussing bilateral deals to trade carbon with several countries. An agreement such as the one in Baku could be a catalyst, and activate India’s own carbon-trading market. Published - November 24, 2024 04:20 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit environmental politics / environmental cleanup / summit / The Hindu Explains