December, 15 2009, 10:22am EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Phone,+1 617 482 1211 (Toll-free 1-800-77-OXFAM),Email,info@oxfamamerica.org
UN Publishes Results of Two Years of Climate Talks
The official outcome of two years of climate negotiations was released at the UN climate talks in Copenhagen today.
COPENHAGEN
The results of discussions in two parallel negotiating tracks showed
some progress on the detail but left all the big questions unanswered,
including what legal form the agreement in Copenhagen will take, the
scale of the climate finance package, and the level of rich country
emissions reductions.
Jeremy Hobbs, Executive Director for Oxfam International said: "Like
builders trying to construct a house before fixing the foundations,
negotiators have spent two years attempting to piece together a deal
without any political agreement on the big issues.
Heads of State now need to make the decisions they have shied away
from for over two years. They must deliver a deal which guarantees
sharp emissions reductions and at least $200bn in new money to help
poor countries tackle climate change.
"A deal can be done. It is in no-one's interests to leave Copenhagen
with a set of empty promises, least of all the politicians who will try
to claim success. The buck stops here."
Some of the key gaps include:
- The scale of emissions reductions for Annex 1 countries is
creeping up towards 25% however the proposals are riddled with
loopholes and hot air. A real reduction of 40% below 1990 levels by 2020 is needed; - The
starter funding offers of around $10 billion per year are a fraction of
the most credible estimates of $100 billion for adaptation and $100
billion for mitigation by developing countries. A rapid scale up of funding to $200 billion per year by 2020 is the political decision that is needed; - Weaker systems of review and verification have been proposed but they do not provide the assurances that are needed. A strong system of compliance within a legally binding treaty structure is the political decision that is needed.
Read more
Blog: Global Day of Action on Climate, the world demands a Real Deal
All of Oxfam's latest climate change content
Oxfam's summary of the political state of play
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Join our petition to help stop climate change.
Oxfam's Climate Advisors from around the globe are available to
provide expert analysis on policy and politics of the talks. Our team
of experts is liaising closely with government delegations and party to
inside information on the talks.
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