climate talks regress
In order to serve their short term
domestic interests, and to accomodate the US administration, many developed
countries are now abandoning their legal obligations to take the lead in
cutting emissions and to provide financial support for developing
countries.
Stephanie Long from Friends of the Earth International said:
“At this late stage in the negotiations towards Copenhagen, attempts by
developed countries to evade their historical responsibility by crashing
the Kyoto Protocol is a recipe for disaster. The Kyoto Protocol is the
only international legally binding treaty aimed at reducing emissions
and contains a stringent penalty system for non-compliance.”
“On the streets of Bangkok there were thousands of demonstrators calling
for immediate action from developed countries. But climate negotiators
remain deaf to these calls for climate justice,” she added.
Meena Raman from Friends of the Earth Malaysia said:
“So far it looks like the Copenhagen talks could deliver a toothless
agreement based on vague pledges that cannot deliver the deep greenhouse
cuts that science and justice demand of rich nations.”
“Other countries are using the US's position as an opportunity to try
and avoid stringent legally binding emissions cuts which they should
implement at home.”
In another shocking development, the UK – speaking on behalf of the EU –
insisted on deleting a safeguard aimed at preventing that forests be
converted into damaging plantations.
Tom Picken from Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland
said:
“The UK's scramble to put forests in the global carbon market is
blurring their vision of what negotiations on the protection of forests
are meant to do. The UK seems more interested in securing the supply of
cheap offset credits rather than promoting exactly the kinds of
safeguards needed to prevent deforestation.”
For more information contact in Bangkok
Stephanie Long, Friends of the Earth International: +61 414 136 461
(Australian mobile number)
Meena Raman, Honorary Secretary of Friends of the Earth Malaysia: _+ 60
12 43 00 042 (Malaysian mobile number)
Tom Picken, Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Tel: +44 7810 55 82 47 (UK mobile number)
Kate Horner, Friends of the Earth US: Tel: +1 360 319 9444 (US mobile
number)
Linda IJmker, Friends of the Earth Netherlands +66 870 921 738 (Thai
mobile valid until Oct.11 only) or Friends of the Earth Netherlands
Press office +31
20 5507 333
Makoto Ehara, Friends of the Earth Japan +66 848 807 328 (Thai mobile
valid until Oct.10 only) or +81 806 647 1333 (Japanese mobile)
