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UN
SUMMIT FAILS WORLD - NO ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Sep
16

Immediate
Release: Friday 16 September 2005

The
United Nations (UN) Summit, which ends today in New York, has been
criticised by Friends of the Earth for failing to agree any firm action on
climate change.

The
final outcome document of the Summit does not recognise the immense
challenge to stabilise the world's climate, and the threat that climate
change poses upon reaching the UN Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

The
Summit text being put forward today reveals that no progress has been made
on climate change. Circulation of previous drafts demonstrates that the
outcome document has been significantly weakened through the negotiation
process.

The
final Summit document rightly refers to the role of the UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol but it does not go far
enough in recognising the authority of the November 2005 UN Climate Summit
in Montreal (Canada) to begin negotiations for the post 2012 international
climate commitments.

Friends
of the Earth International Climate Campaigner Catherine Pearce said:

"World
leaders have clearly failed to face up to the urgent need to take action
on climate change. This Summit was a golden opportunity for the UN to
commit resources to and support some of the world's poorest countries who
will face the harshest impacts of the world's changing climate."

"The
international community must recognise the need to assist poorer countries
in dealing with the impacts of climate change. Money must be made
available to help countries adapt to the changing climate, and also to
cope with climate disasters,"

"The
scientific evidence clearly shows that climate change is happening and
that greenhouse gas emissions must be curbed. Unless urgent action is
taken by the richest, industrialised nations to reduce emissions, the
poverty reduction envisaged by the Millennium Development Goals will not
be achieved [1]."

The
potential and capacity for renewable sources of energy to reduce poverty
and improve sustainable development in developing countries is poorly
acknowledged in the final Summit outcomes.

Friends
of the Earth also criticised the final text for failing to recognise that
the conservation and sustainable use of the natural environment is a
pre-condition for poverty eradication and human well-being, as concluded
by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.

The
recommendations on international environmental governance that were agreed
at the 2000 UN Millennium Summit form a clear mandate for the UN General
Assembly to discuss the transformation of the UN Environment Program into
a specialized agency financed by assessed mandatory contributions from UN
member states.

2005,
2004,
2003,
2002,
2001,
2000,
1999,
1998,
1997,
1996,
1995,
1994

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Website: http://www.foe.co.uk/

Media team

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