Krista Stryker

Just a week ahead of the UN Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen, a new study released Tuesday, December 2nd by the Stockholm Environment Institute in partnership with Friends of the Earth Europe proves for the first time that Europe could double its greenhouse gas emission reduction target for 2020.

The report, titled ‘Europe’s Share of the Climate Challenge: Domestic Actions and International Obligations to Protect the Planet,' shows how Europe can cut its emissions by 40% in 2020, and by 90% in 2050 compared to 1990 levels.  Europe is currently only aiming for half of those reductions.

Magda Stoczkiewicz, director of Friends of the Earth Europe said: “This study proves that it is possible for Europe to deliver its fair share of necessary global emission cuts. A 40% cut by 2020 in Europe is feasible and affordable, and it can be done without resorting to dangerous or unproven solutions.  The EU can make these cuts in a way which not only improves the quality of life for people in Europe, but also ensures the rights of poorer parts of the world to develop sustainably.”

The study also shows that drastic cuts by the EU will not be enough and that the EU and other countries must support the developing world's climate challenge.  It suggests that the EU should contribute between €150 and €450 billion per year to developing countries, or less than €3 per person per day.  Only the combination of a reduction in emissions by the EU as well as the provision of adequate finances for the EU will be enough to fight climate change.

Dr. Charles Heaps of the Stockholm Environment Institute, lead author of the report and a senior scientist in SEI’s climate and energy program, said: “Our analysis shows that deep cuts in emissions can be achieved in Europe at reasonable cost between now and 2050.  The scale and speed of changes required may seem daunting...but the potential costs of inaction are so large that doing nothing presents a far more implausible and dangerous future pathway for Europe.”

Read the full report here.

Eastern Australia recently experienced a heatwave which smashed temperature records for November. I live in a bushfire prone area. I used to think my house was pretty safe from bushfires, but no longer.  Without strong and immediate action on climate change the Blue Mountains will experience frequent days of Extreme and Catastrophic bushfire danger (these are the official fire danger ratings - not alarmist rhetoric). Not only would catastrophic bushfires destroy many homes (including those previously considered safe from bushfires), but they would devastate the unique and diverse ecosystems which resulted in World Heritage listing for the Greater Blue Mountains.

When you are deciding on climate change action at Copenhagen, I want you to think of my four children who pack their "fire bags" every time the fire danger rating reaches Extreme. Will they need to leave their bags permanently packed in 2020, 2030, 2050.... or will they feel secure in the knowledge that global leaders have done everything in their power to avert climate catastrophe?

Sue Morrison
Blue Mountains, Australia

Save money, stop climate change.

We need action not just words any more!

I want to teach my children to ski!

Present actions can save the future.

Doesn't concern me.

Is this what you want?

Actions matter more than words - make it happen today.  Save the world!

Greetings, waiting for winter.  - Helvi

Winter in Finland 2050

Keep the world worth living in!

Act now - reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

Please!  Save the world!

Let's keep the earth cool!

Courage to act.  Two degrees thank you!

We need a strong agreement.

I wish: Binding deal in Copenhagen

Now!

Help!  Climate law now!

Stop it climate change!  You can do it!  The citizens of the world expect you to act!

Let's not flood the Pacific Islands.

I want the climate agreement.

Strong deal for save future.

I want a strong climate agreement.

Listen to your heart!

The talks were the fourth gathering of the year in preparation for the climate summit in Copenhagen this December.

The official discussions were focused mainly on what efforts the newly industrialising countries; such as China, India and Brazil; are prepared to curb the increase of their emissions.

Also discussed was the extent to which industrialised countries are prepared to support developing countries to reduce emissions in future years.

Friends of the Earth International and other civil society debaters took part in daily mobilisations outside of the summit, demanding the repayment of climate debt, the exclusion of the World bank and other financial institutions from the climate debate, and the rights of indigenous peoples, fisherfolk and women to be protected.  The civil society forums held by FoEI and others focused on how to achieve real solutions to climate justice without risking people or the planet.

The talks did not meet the hopes and expectations of the civil society debaters - instead of real solutions and displays of innovation, discussion was centred on trying to get the United States to enter into an agreement, even proposing to dispose of the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, arguing this would be the only way to effectively tackle climate change.

There was also no agreement on developing countries' role in combating climate change, and the developed countries refused to accept the proposal that they finance the mitigation, adaptation and technology needs of developing countries through new democratic financial institutions other than the World Bank.

The next talks ahead of the Copenhagen climate summit will be held in Barcelona from November 2-6. 

blogs

Read the introductory blog from Bangkok.

Read the closing blog post wrapping up the summit

Watch video blogs

photos

See pictures of the summit

further information

Find out more about the talks on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change website.

The world’s fastest Mount Everest climber, Pemba Dorje Sherpa, has called on the Australian government to halve the country’s carbon pollution by the middle of the next decade to help stop the melting of the Himalayas.

Mr Sherpa says his home is changing because of global warming.


“The glaciers around Everest are disappearing and our way of life is being
threatened,” he says.

Mr Sherpa’s call for action coincides with the release of a Friends of the Earth report which says the big melt in the Himalayas is the one of humanity’s single greatest threats from global warming.

“Warming across the greater Himalayas is two-to-four times the global average. This rise in temperature will increase hazards such as avalanches, debris flows, landslides and flash floods,” says FoE spokesperson Damien Lawson. 

Find out more about the big melt of the Himalayas and read the FoE report here.

Ricardo Navarro from was recently interviewed on Climate Radio to give a Southern perspective on the current climate emergency. Ricardo won the Goldman prize for sustainable development in 1995.

He spoke about how a new regional Movement of Climate Change Affected Peoples is responding to the pressures of climate change with awareness raising, permaculture techniques and low-level technologies as well as putting up resistance to inappropriate development. He also gave a wider perspective on the United Nations climate talks which he has been attending since 1992.

Listen to the interview here.

As world leaders met to discuss market-based solutions to climate change and the World Bank's role in bringing about a low carbon economy during the G8 summit, members of civil society movements congregated at the alternative G8 summit to represent poor and local communities around the world.  There they discussed how the transition to a low carbon economy can be managed in a way that does not harm the poor by limiting energy access or the right to develop, and adds to the empowerment of local communities to make decisions about local resources.

Nnimmo Bassey, Chair of Friends of the Earth International was there and documented the event. 

Read his blog posts:

GSott8 opens

Keep the oil in the soil

The tar sands threat

Nnimmo in action

The people need oil not soil

more information 

BRUSSELS, 24 June 2009 - Friends of the Earth Europe has warmly welcomed the ground breaking Climate Change Bill passed in Scotland today.

Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) today voted for a target to reduce greenhouse gases by 42 percent by 2020 – the most ambitious statutory target in the world.

The vote followed an overwhelming display of support for early action to cut emissions from scientists, Scottish celebrities and campaigners who travelled to the Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital, to lobby their MSPs.

Friends of the Earth Europe's climate campaign coordinator, Sonja Meister said: “With this law Scotland is leading the world in the fight to tackle dangerous climate change. The emission cuts now required by law in Scotland are the first in the world to be in line with what science tells us is needed.

“The EU should now follow Scotland’s lead and set equally ambitious targets to help get the international climate negotiations on the right path.”

The Chief Executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland, Duncan McLaren, said: “Scotland played a leading role in the Industrial Revolution, and now we can play a leading role in the transition to a low carbon economy with new green jobs for the next generation.

“Climate justice and climate science tell us we urgently need to make emission cuts of at least 42 per cent by 2020. The technology exists to deliver them. The Scottish Government must now exercise the political will to make it so.”

Scotland's Climate Change Bill comes in the same week that the Hungarian parliament took a major step towards the realisation of a climate law. On Monday evening Hungarian MPs adopted a resolution on the preparations of a climate law initiated by the Friends of the Earth Hungary and the Hungarian National Council for Sustainable Development.

Around Europe, Friends of the Earth groups are asking governments to commit to annual cuts in climate changing emissions as part of the European Big Ask. Friends of the Earth's Europe-wide climate campaign aims to get governments and the European Union to commit to legally binding annual cuts in emissions to fight climate change. The Big Ask calls on the European Union to commit to at least 40 per cent reductions in greenhouse gas emissions within Europe by 2020 and 100 per cent by 2050.