Lima climate talks paralyzed by rich nations

As the final sessions of the UN climate talks get underway in Lima, Peru, activists from all over the world gathered outside the plenary session to stand in solidarity with people most affected by climate change. The talks have already run a day behind schedule. The outlook for a fair and equitable deal seems very remote. The Lima Conference should have been a milestone that marked out how governments of developed countries respect their commitments under the climate convention and repay their historical climate debt, but has instead seen developed countries stepping away from their responsibilities.

“Developed countries and corporate polluters have once again paralyzed the UN talks with proposals that were utterly inadequate for developing countries needs. They have prevented our governments from focusing on the real solutions to the climate crisis by shirking their historic responsibilities,” said Dipti Bhatnagar, Climate Justice and Energy Coordinator for Friends of the Earth International.

“Rich developed countries came to Lima determined to protect their short term economic interests and demonstrated a shocking disregard of their historical obligations and a glaring lack of solidarity with the people affected by climate change,” said Jagoda Munic, chairperson of Friends of the Earth International.

The UN climate convention says that developed countries must bear their historical responsibility for creating the climate crisis.