What is the real U.S. agenda in Bali?

BALI (INDONESIA), December 13, 2007 — The United States’ administration was today (Thursday) accused of seeking to derail progress at the United Nations climate talks in Bali, with a series of moves designed to create a deal with no content.

Talks in Bali aimed at taking forward the international agreement on climate change to cut greenhouse gas emissions are currently faltering, with the US negotiators obstructing a pre-agreed aim to include a range of emission reduction cuts of 25 – 40 % for industrialised countries.

Additionally, the US administration is attempting to gut the substance of the negotiations by blocking and stalling on key points for developing countries, including:

blocking proposals for a technology transfer fund that would help developing countries access clean renewable energy technology blocking proposals to ensure “sufficient, predictable, additional and sustainable financial resources for” adaptation to climate change in vulnerable countries preventing agreement on deforestation by making a last minute intervention

The United States administration claims to want to take action on climate change. But in the name of not “starting out with a predetermined answer,” the US government is blocking discussions on key issues under the UN process.

Elizabeth Bast, International Policy Analyst with Friends of the Earth US said:

“The US government is completely out of touch with public opinion that strongly supports action to tackle climate change. Many parts of the world, including in the United States, are already suffering from the impacts of climate change, and we need a strong international agreement to ensure action is taken to prevent these impacts from getting worse. The Bush administration is not representing the US people, their interests, or even the long-term interests of the US economy in blocking these talks.”

If the United States administration truly wants to see international agreement on a way forward on climate change:

Why is the US delegation in Bali blocking the inclusion of an ambitious goal for emissions reductions in industrialized countries?
Why is the United States delegation saying that 25-40% emission cuts by 2020 in industrialized countries is “totally unrealistic for many countries”?
Why did the US delegation block text about “ensuring sufficient, predictable, additional and sustainable financial resources for” adaptation in future discussions under the UN convention?
Why is the US delegation blocking the idea of a technology transfer fund, when clean technology is so important for developing countries to reduce emissions? · Why does the US delegation think that the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is “not a sustainable development convention”?

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Elizabeth Bast, Friends of the Earth US. Tel: + 62 813 38969958 (Indonesian mobile number valid until Dec. 14 only) or email ebast@foe.org

Tony Juniper, Friends of the Earth International Vice Chair, + 62 813 389 699 65 (Indonesian mobile number valid until Dec. 14 only)

PRESS OFFICERS:

Niccolo Sarno (Friends of the Earth International media coordinator) Tel: +62 813 38969973 (Indonesian mobile number valid until Dec. 14 only)

Helen Burley (Friends of the Earth International media officer) Tel: +62 813 38969937 (Indonesian mobile number valid until Dec. 14 only)