Singaporeans Fret Over 3rd Flash Flood in 30 Days

Singapore's parliament opened hearings today on a series of damaging flash floods which have swept the city in the past month, most recently this weekend. Singapore's environment minister blamed a prevailing "La Nina" wet weather pattern and Typhoon Conson, but said global climate change may also play a part.



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Radiohead's frontman wants answers in Copenhagen

Copenhagen has been a prime spot for environmentally-conscious celebrity spotting. Here's an interview with Radiohead's Thom Yorke from GristTV about why he made a last-minute decision to come to the conference and why he thinks it's critical to cut carbon emissions:

Protesters raise their voices in Copenhagen

Protests are continuing in Copenhagen outside the United Nations Climate Change Conference. Many NGOs are protesting because the UN slashed the number of NGOs that would be permitted inside the building (40,000 NGO credentials were handed out but only 15,000 people will be allowed inside). This video, taken by a protestor, provides more insight:

Thousands of others are upset with the direction that the conference is taking and are unsatisfied with the progress that has been made. This footage is from a walk-out of indigenous people from the Bella Center:

And the protests are raging outside the walls of the conference as well. Thousands have taken to the streets outside the Bella Center (the metro stop there has been shut down) and many have been arrested. Here's an account from an arrested protester:

Gearing up for the CNN/YouTube Climate Debate in Copenhagen

We're just hours away from the CNN/YouTube Climate Debate, brought to you from the United Nations Climate Conference in Copenhagen. All questions came from the YouTube community - so tune in to watch it live at www.youtube.com/cop15

But first, here's a quick behind-the-scenes look at the set-up for today's event:

And you can follow the debate on Twitter with #cnnytdebate

Live on YouTube: Leaders Answer Your Questions in the CNN/YouTube Climate Debate

Today, at 8 a.m. ET, a panel of world climate leaders, among them former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan and journalist Thomas Friedman, will gather in Copenhagen and answer the top questions that you submitted to the CNN/YouTube Climate Debate channel.

You can watch them address the issues that matter to you in real-time: We'll be live-streaming the debate at www.youtube.com/cop15.

Thank you for making this event truly international. We received thousands of questions from Italy to Brazil, Nigeria to New Zealand. To get a scope of just how many countries are represented, see this map, which depicts global submissions through a Google Earth layer.

And if you didn't have a chance to submit a question, but still want to raise your voice about climate change, we encourage you to join the discussion on Twitter during the debate using hashtag #cnnytdebate.

Kofi Annan, Thomas Friedman to join CNN/YouTube Climate Debate panel

Last week, we announced the CNN/YouTube Climate Debate in Copenhagen, an effort to make sure that your voice is included in the climate debate - and that your questions are posed to decision-makers on an international stage.

These leaders will include Kofi Annan, Thomas Friedman, Yves de Boer, and Bjorn Lomberg.

To submit your question, upload a short video of yourself posing the question and submit it here: www.youtube.com/cop15. We've already seen some top-notch video questions like this one from Mo in Florida who is concerned about the cost of going green:



Angela asks about the consequences of climate change and what happens if Copenhagen leads to nothing:



And Helena in Rio de Janeiro is asking about environmental education in schools:



You can vote on your the questions above and others, and submit your own at www.youtube.com/cop15. The debate will be live-streamed on this YouTube channel on December 15 so make sure to watch and see if world leaders answer your question.

Connect with world leaders on the climate debate

Next week 192 countries will participate in the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen — the first step in setting new international commitments for carbon reduction. We want to be sure your voice is included in the debate.

That's why, starting today, you can submit and vote on questions to ask world climate leaders during a televised town hall on CNN. With Google Moderator on YouTube for the first time, you can view, add, and vote on video or text questions in one spot.

Questions will be translated into numerous languages using the Google Language API, giving you a chance to read and vote on text questions from around the world. Voting and submissions will be accepted until December 14. You can also track the conversation and vote on new questions. Visit www.youtube.com/cop15 now to get started.

Next week we'll post an update on popular and interesting questions. We're looking forward to seeing what ideas you and others around the world have for addressing climate change.

Honey, Can We Shrink the Impacts of Climate Change?

This morning, hundreds of miniature tents were placed in key locations across Europe. The tents are part of a huge activist art installation created by German artist Hermann Josef Hack, to model what developing countries will look like if we don't face the impacts of climate change now. Here's video of how Londoners interacted with the exhibit on Millennium Bridge:



The installation is timed to coincide with the European Union Heads of State and Government Summit this week.

Join World Leaders on the Road to Copenhagen

In December, world leaders will meet in Copenhagen to discuss a global agreement on climate change as part of the United Nations’ Climate Change Convention (often referred to as COP15). The goal of the meeting is to reduce global warming emissions and ultimately chart a course that avoids the most severe impacts of climate change.

The road to Copenhagen begins now, as heads of state flock to the United Nations in hopes of laying the groundwork for COP15. That's why today, with the Danish government, we're launching the YouTube COP15 channel, where you can you can raise your thoughts and questions on climate change through an initiative called "Raise Your Voice."

We know that you've never been afraid to make your opinions heard on this important issue, from uploading footage of road trips to halt climate change in India to creating humorous educational videos about global warming:



Now here's your chance to submit your most pressing questions about climate change to world leaders through YouTube. All approved entries will be broadcast on screens around COP15 in December and rated by viewers of the channel. The top-rated entries will be put in front of a panel of experts at an interactive debate that will be globally aired by YouTube/CNN International. Two winners will also receive a trip to Copenhagen to be present at the debate.

YouTube Goes Green for Earth Day

In honor of Earth Day, here's a quick roundup of some of the greenest videos on YouTube right now:

• The White House just uploaded this video, which features Van Jones from the White House Council of Environmental Quality and gives you an excellent look at how a new green economy might function.
• Want to know how to make your life greener? Oxfam's Green Granny or GristTV's Umbra can show you the way -- or check out YouTube's "Live Green" channel for tons of helpful video suggestions.
• If you're looking to take action on climate change, take a look at Greenpeace's latest -- aptly named, "Inspiring Action".
• In this sustainable sing-along, guitarist Jack Johnson rocks out with the elementary school set to emphasize the importance of recycling.
  
  

On the Road to Solving India's Climate Crisis

In this Sunday's New York Times, Thomas Friedman highlighted ten young climate activists who drove plug-in electric cars all over India. Their mission was to highlight potential solutions to the climate crisis and inspire citizens and companies to take action to decrease their burgeoning carbon footprint.

These activists, who belong to an organization called the Indian Youth Climate Network, chronicled their entire 2100-mile trip on YouTube, creating 35 videos about how Indians were tackling energy problems in rural villages, on college campuses, and in overpopulated cities:



As the group posted footage to YouTube, other people joined their movement. Says Friedman, "A Bollywood dance group joined at different stops and a Czech who learned about their trip on YouTube hopped on with his truck that ran on vegetable-oil waste."

For full coverage of the journey, please visit the Indian Youth Climate Network's YouTube Channel.