Oct 18 2009
The European Union needs to stand firm and reject US efforts to weaken a climate deal in Copenhagen, said Greenpeace, as the world’s largest emitters gather in London for the US-led Major Economies Forum (MEF) beginning Sunday.
Despite President Obama’s repeated promises to lead the fight against climate change, his administration is threatening the possibility of a strong international climate deal that would keep global temperature rise below two degrees Celsius.
“The EU must stand behind its stated goals of saving the climate and reject US attempts to water down the entire agreement to suit its domestic agenda,” said Martin Kaiser, Greenpeace International climate political adviser.
“The EU needs to reaffirm its commitment to the Kyoto Protocol and increase its own reduction targets. With fewer than 50 days until Copenhagen, the planet cannot afford to be sacrificed to the politics of self-interest,” he said.
Greenpeace also warned that the MEF process should not be used by the US to point the finger at developing countries to divert attention from its own weak policies.
China, Brazil, India and Indonesia, are among those that, unlike their industrialised counterparts, have made positive moves towards a strong climate deal with more announcements expected.
“Developing countries are taking action – but they need to see the Obama, Merkel, Sarkozy, and other leaders step up and match that with the funding needed to deal with climate change,” Kaiser said.
Immediately after the MEF, the EU will meet to decide its Copenhagen position. With its industrialised peers, it must show the MEF they will push for a fair, binding and ambitious deal at Copenhagen that includes:
- Emissions cuts of at least 40% by 2020 at 1990 levels from the developed world;
- Developing countries reduce projected emissions growth by 15-30% by 2020, with support from industrialised countries;
- An end to tropical deforestation by 2020;
- At least US$140 billion annually from industrialised countries to support adaptation; mitigation and forest protection in the developing world.