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Rich countries hold UN climate negotiations hostage EU offers little hope for just climate agreement Bonn, 12 June - Throughout the United Nations climate talks due to end today in Bonn, the United States administration has blocked progress to move negotiations forward. While the EU is not playing such a negative role, it is failing to make progress towards finding just solutions to the climate crisis, according to Friends of the Earth Europe. The Obama Administration failed to live up to its responsibility in Bonn as the world's largest historical greenhouse gas polluter. This strategy helped damage the prospects for a just, equitable, and effective outcome at the key UN conference due to take place in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December this year. The European Union, also amongst the largest historical emitters of greenhouse gasses, has failed to show leadership at the negotiations, remaining largely silent in the face of US obstruction. It has also not criticised the dangerously low proposals from Japan for an 8% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels by 2020, and the US proposal to remain at 1990 levels by 2020. "The election of President Obama created tremendous hope worldwide that the U.S. would finally play a leadership role in solving the climate crisis that - more than any other nation on earth - it is responsible for causing. Unfortunately, the Obama Administration's position sounds frighteningly similar to that of George Bush, and the EU seems unwilling or unable to show leadership or hold the US to account" said Sonja Meister of Friends of the Earth Europe. The current EU position of 20% reductions by 2020 (30% if other industrialised countries make comparable efforts and if major developing countries take on adequate responsibilities) falls short of the necessary reductions. Considering the EU is set to offset over half of its commitments, this will water down already weak targets. Industrialised countries need to reduce greenhouse gas emission by at least 40% by 2020, without offsetting, to have a reasonable chance of avoiding catastrophic climate change. Alarmingly, the EU and industrialised countries failed in Bonn to agree to the substantial transfers of money and technology cooperation needed to enable developing countries to tackle climate change. This money must be provided in addition to overseas development aid, in recognition of the debt that they owe developing countries. [1] "Industrialised countries need to assume their historical responsibility and pay back their climate debt. Developing countries must stay strong in calling for climate justice. A fair and just agreement is the only way forward for the world," said Sonja Meister. *** For more information please contact in Bonn: Sonja Meister, Coordinator of the Friends of the Earth Europe climate campaign: +49 176 64 60 85 15 (German mobile), sonja.meister@foeeurope.org IN BONN TODAY Press conference at 15.30 in Saal Reger, Hotel Maritim from Friends of the Earth International and Third World Network, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, Friends of the Earth USA. Interviews available with Friends of the Earth campaigners from Germany, Netherlands, Norway, UK and also Japan, US, Malaysia. In Brussels: *** NOTES [1] For more information on climate debt read the Third World Network briefing paper:
Friends of the Earth Europe campaigns for sustainable and fair societies and for the protection of the environment, |