Geopolitical Monitor - Environment - Geopolitical Analysis on Environment Issues Facing Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas, and the Middle East

March 16th (BBC News) - The "disappointing" outcome of December's climate summit was largely down to "arrogance" on the part of rich countries, according to Lord Stern.

Mar. 12th (Montreal Gazette) - A day after the U.S. Coast Guard's top commander declared the Arctic a region of "extreme focus" for the U.S. — by announcing plans to bolster the American icebreaker fleet by bringing an aging icebreaker out of retirement — a Liberal senator and a leading Arctic expert are calling for stronger commitments from the Canadian government to project the country's presence in the polar realm.

This backgrounder will examine the international nuclear nonproliferation regime; specifically the origins, benefits, and drawbacks of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).  Increasingly obvious loopholes and a looming NPT review conference in May are coming together to make 2010 a watershed year for the nuclear nonproliferation regime.

Mar 1st. (CBC News) - One man was reported shot and killed, and about 160 people were arrested as police tried to control post-earthquake looting in parts of Chile.

Feb. 11 (Bloomberg) - The U.K. Environment Agency said it will boost spending on measures to reduce flooding and coastal erosion in England and Wales by 7 percent to 745 million pounds ($1.2 billion) for the year through March 2011.

BEIJING, Feb. 9 (China Daily) - China has completed construction of 13 permanent facilities - stone tablets and lighthouses - on islands and reefs in the East China Sea, in an effort to clarify its territorial waters' baseline in the oil-rich area.

Feb. 4 (Montreal Gazette) - Canada is angling to assume a leadership role in international polar affairs by convening a meeting of Arctic foreign ministers in March ahead of a G8 gathering to be held in Quebec, Canwest News Service has learned.

Feb. 1 (Al Jazeera) - Nigeria's main armed group has said it was not directly responsible for the sabotage of an oil pipeline that forced Royal Dutch Shell to shut down three pumping stations in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

Jan. 25 (BBC News) - The confirmed death toll from Haiti's devastating earthquake has risen above 150,000 in the Port-au-Prince area alone, a government minister has said.

Jan. 22 (Al Jazeera) - Thousands of Haitians are continuing to flee the capital, Port-au-Prince, fearful of aftershocks and concerned at the bleak prospects for work and normal life following the deadly earthquake of January 12.