Kyoto Afloat After Attempted Sabotage

Negotiators reached a deal in Bali today (Saturday) on taking forward the Kyoto Protocol but Friends of the Earth International expressed deep disappointment at the weak content following many attempts to derail the talks by the some delegations.

Friends of the Earth International

December 15, 2007

 

Kyoto Afloat After Attempted Sabotage

BALI (INDONESIA) December 15, 2007 – Negotiators reached a deal in Bali today (Saturday) on taking forward the Kyoto Protocol but Friends of the Earth International expressed deep disappointment at the weak content following many attempts to derail the talks by the some delegations.

But the European Union, Australia and developing countries stood their ground on the need to include an agreement in a united front that emissions cuts should be in the range of 25 – 40 per cent, as demanded by climate scientists. This provides some indication of ambition but still leaves a lot of work to be done.

Friends of the Earth International Climate Coordinator Stephanie Long said:

“Ministers from some industrialised countries meeting in Bali have let down the people of the world. They reached agreement on a way forward, but with little to guide them along the way. Future talks will now face a serious uphill battle to reach a strong agreement by the end of 2009.

“Around the world millions of people are already suffering the effects of climate change. People outside the talks have sent a strong message demanding climate justice. This message must no longer fall on deaf ears.  We only have two years to build on this weak outcome and develop a just deal which ensures tough action from industrialised countries and assistance for people in the developing world.”

Delegations from the United States and Japan, supported by Canada, earlier in the talks shot down strong developing country proposals on financing the transfer of technology. The rest of the industrialised countries failed to reign in the destructive behaviour of these three countries, which has led to compromised deal.

The deal does include an agreement on the Adaptation Fund which will begin to deliver funds for developing countries to deal with the impacts of climate change, and an agreement to review how industrialised countries will meet emissions reduction targets in the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol.

The limitations of the deal includes:

•     * A work plan to negotiate complex issues on the potential scheme to reduce deforestation in developing countries, with references that could include plantations which would water down the scheme;
•     * Obligation for verifiable reporting on developing country actions without resolute commitments  to finance technology and capacity building to assist them to do so

WALHI/ Friends of the Earth Indonesia Deputy Director Farah Sofa said:

“The major success of these UN climate talks in Bali has been to make the first major step toward building a global movement for climate justice.  WALHI remains committed to raising the voices of the people and ultimately it is the people that will judge the quality of our leaders. These voices must be heard.”

Contact:

 

FRIENDS OF THE EARTH INTERNATIONAL SPOKESPEOPLE IN BALI

Meena Raman (English and Malay),Friends of the Earth International Chair     + 60 1243 00042

Tony Juniper, Friends of the Earth International Vice Chair (English, only Dec.9-14)     + 44 7712 843207

Stephanie Long (English), Friends of the Earth International Climate coordinator     + 62 813 38968812

Joseph Zacune (English, Swedish and Spanish), Friends of the Earth International Climate coordinator

+ 62 813 38969955

FRIENDS OF THE EARTH INTERNATIONAL PRESS OFFICERS

Helen Burley (English, French)     +62 813 38969937

FRIENDS OF THE EARTH INDONESIA CONTACTS

Farah Sofa (known as Ovi), Deputy Director of WALHI (Friends of the Earth Indonesia) Indonesian mobile number:     +62.811.194773

Fay, Walhi (Friends of the Earth Indonesia) media officer     +62 815 8070717

 

ADDITIONAL FRIENDS OF THE EARTH SPOKESPEOPLE AVAILABLE

Elizabeth Bast, Friends of the Earth USA (English, Spanish)     + 62 813 38969958

Robin Webster, Friends of the Earth England, Wales and N. Ireland             + 62 813 38969983

Jens Nielsen, Friends of the Earth Netherlands (English, Dutch)             + 62 813 38969978

Sonja Meister, Friends of the Earth Europe (English, German)             + 62 813 38969974

Yuri Onodera, Friends of the Earth Japan (English and Japanese)             + 81 90 96834747

Antje von Brook, Friends of the Earth Germany (German and English)             + 62 813 38968865

Gerhard Timm, Friends of the Earth Germany (German and English)             + 62 813 38969966

Jens Karg, Friends of the Earth Austria (English, German)             + 62 813 38968866