‘Shocking lack of urgency’ at climate talks
-14/11/06
World governments must overcome
‘Shocking lack of urgency’ at climate talks
-14/11/06
World governments must overcome a ëshocking lack of urgencyí shown during the first week of negotiations at the UN Climate Change Conference, if significant progress is to be made on cutting global emissions in the future and helping poor countries to adapt to global warming, says UK Christian relief and development agency, Tearfund.
With five days of negotiations left in Nairobi, where more than 100 nations have gathered, there is as yet no agreement on when they will start serious negotiations about how the world will make much deeper CO2 emissions cuts when the first phase of the Kyoto Protocol agreement runs out in 2012, and no agreement on how crucial global funds will be managed in order to help poor countries adapt to the heat waves, droughts and storms they currently face as a result of climate change.
ìThere is a scandalous lack of urgency about these talks,î says Andy Atkins, Advocacy Director of Tearfund. ìThere is widespread agreement around the world that climate change is one of the most serious threats facing humanity, but you would not know that listening to some of the debates here in Nairobi. It is like being in a small sinking boat and everyone is debating when we should start seriously baling out the water. We are seeing a shocking lack of urgency.î
Tearfund is calling for strong leadership from the UK and other leading countries, similar to the political will that last year saw the G8 Summit in Gleneagles deliver some breakthrough decisions to benefit poor people in developing countries.
ìWe need a major investment of political will this week, with more effort from nations on different sides of negotiations to reach agreement. We are calling on the British Secretary of State for the Environment David Miliband and fellow ministers from around the world who arrive midweek, to ensure that this climate change summit does not go down as one that failed millions of poor people around the world whose lives and livelihoods are already being adversely affected.
Critical decisions to be made this week according to the aid agency include a timetable for negotiations on a post-2012 framework for cutting global emissions. Tearfund and other agencies believe this should be completed by 2008.
They also urge an increase in finances to help poor countries adapt to climate change, including crucial decisions about which international organisation will manage the crucial Adaptation Fund and how that is carried out.
‘Shocking lack of urgency’ at climate talks
-14/11/06
World governments must overcome a ëshocking lack of urgencyí shown during the first week of negotiations at the UN Climate Change Conference, if significant progress is to be made on cutting global emissions in the future and helping poor countries to adapt to global warming, says UK Christian relief and development agency, Tearfund.
With five days of negotiations left in Nairobi, where more than 100 nations have gathered, there is as yet no agreement on when they will start serious negotiations about how the world will make much deeper CO2 emissions cuts when the first phase of the Kyoto Protocol agreement runs out in 2012, and no agreement on how crucial global funds will be managed in order to help poor countries adapt to the heat waves, droughts and storms they currently face as a result of climate change.
ìThere is a scandalous lack of urgency about these talks,î says Andy Atkins, Advocacy Director of Tearfund. ìThere is widespread agreement around the world that climate change is one of the most serious threats facing humanity, but you would not know that listening to some of the debates here in Nairobi. It is like being in a small sinking boat and everyone is debating when we should start seriously baling out the water. We are seeing a shocking lack of urgency.î
Tearfund is calling for strong leadership from the UK and other leading countries, similar to the political will that last year saw the G8 Summit in Gleneagles deliver some breakthrough decisions to benefit poor people in developing countries.
ìWe need a major investment of political will this week, with more effort from nations on different sides of negotiations to reach agreement. We are calling on the British Secretary of State for the Environment David Miliband and fellow ministers from around the world who arrive midweek, to ensure that this climate change summit does not go down as one that failed millions of poor people around the world whose lives and livelihoods are already being adversely affected.
Critical decisions to be made this week according to the aid agency include a timetable for negotiations on a post-2012 framework for cutting global emissions. Tearfund and other agencies believe this should be completed by 2008.
They also urge an increase in finances to help poor countries adapt to climate change, including crucial decisions about which international organisation will manage the crucial Adaptation Fund and how that is carried out.