7 December 2011
Friends of the Earth International
CLIMATE TALKS: DURBAN INACTION A RECIPE FOR CLIMATE CATASTROPHE
DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA, 7 December 2011 – Friends of the Earth International
has issued strong warnings against climate inaction at the UN climate
talks in Durban, and blamed industrialised countries like the US, Canada,
Japan and Europe for seeking to unravel existing agreements under the
guise of a “new mandate” for the climate negotiations.
As global leaders arrive today for the final three days of talks, the
international grassroots environmental organisation has pointed to the
highly destructive agenda of developed countries, including the EU, which
have so far failed in Durban to propose any ambitious emission reductions
and any suitable finance and technology support to developing countries.
Friends of the Earth International has called on developing countries to
resist the push from the rich industrialised world to tear up existing
commitments. A new mandate – which means not implementing existing
obligations – would lock in ten years of inaction and set the world
squarely on a course for climate catastrophe.
“Rich countries must hear loud and clear that Africa won’t pay for their
crisis. Developed countries are trying to kill the Kyoto Protocol. They
want to turn back the clock to 1997 and shift responsibility for the
climate crisis they created onto the developing countries already bearing
the brunt of climate change. Anything less than strong legally-binding
emissions reductions for developed countries under a second commitment
period of the Kyoto Protocol must be understood for what it is – a mandate
to burn Africa and our people” said Nnimmo Bassey, Chair of Friends of the
Earth International.
“This talk of a new treaty is a ruse to distract the world from the
failure of developed countries to deliver on their existing commitments to
cut emissions. We don’t need a new mandate, a mandate already exists. A
new mandate will open the door to climate deregulation where polluters
continue to pollute, speculators profit from pollution, and the rest of
the world carries the burden of the climate crisis” said Meena Raman of
Friends of the Earth Malaysia.
The EU has driven the call for a new mandate but it is advancing a wider
agenda of rich industrialised countries like the US, Japan and Canada to
escape from the current system of legally-binding emissions reduction
targets for those countries which have caused the climate crisis — and
shift responsibility onto developing countries. Meanwhile, countries are
using the international climate negotiations to drive forward false and
dangerous solutions to climate change like the expansion of carbon
trading.
“It is clear what is driving this agenda. More and more countries are
coming to the international climate talks with one objective in mind: to
defend and advance the economic interests of their polluting industries
and multinational corporations and resist the global effort for a strong
and fair agreement to tackle climate change. Many civil society groups are
calling Durban a conference of polluters. We cannot let the polluters win
and lock in a decade of inaction on the climate crisis. Africa must stand
strong on behalf of the people of Africa and the people of the world,”
said Bobby Peek of Friends of the Earth South Africa.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Friends of the Earth International media line: +27 791 097 223 (South
African number valid only until Dec.10) or +31-6-5100 5630 (Dutch mobile)
or email:media@foei.org
Nnimmo Bassey, Chair of Friends of the Earth International: +234 803 727
4395 (Nigerian mobile) or +27 (0) 71 63 92 542 (South African mobile
valid only until Dec.10), email:nnimmo@eraction.org
Bobby Peek, Director of Friends of the Earth South Africa / groundWork:
+27 824 641 383 (South African mobile), email:bobby@groundwork.org.za
Meena Raman, Friends of the Earth Malaysia:+27(0)72 26 18 870 (valid until
Dec. 9)
7 December 2011
Friends of the Earth International
CLIMATE TALKS: DURBAN INACTION A RECIPE FOR CLIMATE CATASTROPHE
DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA, 7 December 2011 – Friends of the Earth International
has issued strong warnings against climate inaction at the UN climate
talks in Durban, and blamed industrialised countries like the US, Canada,
Japan and Europe for seeking to unravel existing agreements under the
guise of a “new mandate” for the climate negotiations.
As global leaders arrive today for the final three days of talks, the
international grassroots environmental organisation has pointed to the
highly destructive agenda of developed countries, including the EU, which
have so far failed in Durban to propose any ambitious emission reductions
and any suitable finance and technology support to developing countries.
Friends of the Earth International has called on developing countries to
resist the push from the rich industrialised world to tear up existing
commitments. A new mandate – which means not implementing existing
obligations – would lock in ten years of inaction and set the world
squarely on a course for climate catastrophe.
“Rich countries must hear loud and clear that Africa won’t pay for their
crisis. Developed countries are trying to kill the Kyoto Protocol. They
want to turn back the clock to 1997 and shift responsibility for the
climate crisis they created onto the developing countries already bearing
the brunt of climate change. Anything less than strong legally-binding
emissions reductions for developed countries under a second commitment
period of the Kyoto Protocol must be understood for what it is – a mandate
to burn Africa and our people” said Nnimmo Bassey, Chair of Friends of the
Earth International.
“This talk of a new treaty is a ruse to distract the world from the
failure of developed countries to deliver on their existing commitments to
cut emissions. We don’t need a new mandate, a mandate already exists. A
new mandate will open the door to climate deregulation where polluters
continue to pollute, speculators profit from pollution, and the rest of
the world carries the burden of the climate crisis” said Meena Raman of
Friends of the Earth Malaysia.
The EU has driven the call for a new mandate but it is advancing a wider
agenda of rich industrialised countries like the US, Japan and Canada to
escape from the current system of legally-binding emissions reduction
targets for those countries which have caused the climate crisis — and
shift responsibility onto developing countries. Meanwhile, countries are
using the international climate negotiations to drive forward false and
dangerous solutions to climate change like the expansion of carbon
trading.
“It is clear what is driving this agenda. More and more countries are
coming to the international climate talks with one objective in mind: to
defend and advance the economic interests of their polluting industries
and multinational corporations and resist the global effort for a strong
and fair agreement to tackle climate change. Many civil society groups are
calling Durban a conference of polluters. We cannot let the polluters win
and lock in a decade of inaction on the climate crisis. Africa must stand
strong on behalf of the people of Africa and the people of the world,”
said Bobby Peek of Friends of the Earth South Africa.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Friends of the Earth International media line: +27 791 097 223 (South
African number valid only until Dec.10) or +31-6-5100 5630 (Dutch mobile)
or email:media@foei.org
Nnimmo Bassey, Chair of Friends of the Earth International: +234 803 727
4395 (Nigerian mobile) or +27 (0) 71 63 92 542 (South African mobile
valid only until Dec.10), email:nnimmo@eraction.org
Bobby Peek, Director of Friends of the Earth South Africa / groundWork:
+27 824 641 383 (South African mobile), email:bobby@groundwork.org.za
Meena Raman, Friends of the Earth Malaysia:+27(0)72 26 18 870 (valid until
Dec. 9)