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media advisory
friends of the earth international
poorest lose out at climate change talks
buenos aires , argentina , december 18,
2004 – A deal was reached at United Nations
(UN) climate change talks that ended in
Buenos Aires today, only two months before
the UN Kyoto Climate Treaty enters into
force.
The world's largest contributor to global
warming -the United States- and its main ally
at these talks Saudi Arabia -the globe's
largest oil producer-desperately but
unsuccessfully tried to prevent the rest of
the world from taking the next step at this
climate change conference.
But the deal failed to address the most
urgent needs of the poorest, which are the
most affected by climate change.
“This conference was supposed to address
ways to reduce global greenhouse emissions
and agree on support for least developed
countries already suffering from the impacts
of climate change,” said Argentinean Roque
Pedace of Friends of the Earth International.
“In the end a deal was reached but because
of the US and Saudi Arabia 's position, the
world's poorest countries are not receiving
the support they need. We urge governments to
take real action now,” he added. “The least
developed countries and in particular small
island state s – the nations most at risk
from climate change - did not get from the
conference strong commitments to help them
confront climate change,” he added.
Global warming is caused by harmful
greenhouse gases. Most of them are released
by the richest nations of the planet, causing
rising temperatures and more extreme weather
events such as droughts and floods.
The Kyoto Climate Protocol is the only
international treaty aimed at reducing the
emissions of greenhouse gases. It will enter
into force upon its 128 Parties on 16
February 2005 when thirty industrialised
nations will be legally bound to meet
quantitative targets for reducing or limiting
their greenhouse gas emissions.
Scientists worldwide agree that man-made
climate change is already taking place, even
though the US administration is denying this.
(1)
An increasing number of people, states and
groups have started using the courts for
climate cases, which for now cover seven
countries.
for more information
contact:
Roque Pedace, Friends of the Earth Argentina
(m) +54 911 40 875839 (from Buenos Aires dial
15 40 875839) or
or
Notes to the editor
(1) Science magazine Dec. 3, 2004 vol 306
"The Scientific Consensus on Climate
Change"
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