COP out
21 December 2009

The outcome of the Copenhagen climate talks wasn't great.

It resulted in a voluntary agreement instead of a compulsory one, which fails to:

Pledge deep enough emissions cuts
to stop global temperatures exceeding 2 degrees.
Offer enough money
to help developing countries tackle dangerous climate change.

The very existence of the Copenhagen accord also makes a strong and fair, legally-binding agreement more difficult in the coming years.

Taking the lead

Ed Miliband, on behalf of the UK delegation, worked tirelessly to get an outcome from the Copenhagen talks, but the final deal is extremely weak.

It's time rich countries, including the UK, started pushing for a really strong and fair agreement.

Email the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. Demand that the UK pledges to:

Cut emissions by at least 40% by 2020 from 1990 levels.
Put new money on the table for developing countries.
Negotiate with governments from developing countries on an equal basis.

Email Ed Miliband

Dear Secretary of State

I have read that you worked tirelessly to get an outcome at Copenhagen. But I'm also aware that the final outcome is dreadfully weak. It is a voluntary agreement rather than a binding one. The cuts offered by rich countries, including the UK, are far from enough to stop global temperatures exceeding 2 degrees. The money on the table for developing countries is too little and is uncertain. And the very existence of this voluntary agreement will make it even more difficult to get a strong and fair legally binding agreement in the next few years. The failure of the UK, the EU and the US to offer adequate emissions cuts and finance poisoned the negotiations. Rich countries have failed to show leadership despite having caused climate change through their emissions over the past 100 years. However, it is not too late. I will not give up demanding a fair and strong climate agreement that protects our beautiful planet and protects the lives of millions of the poorest people. I want you to unilaterally commit the UK to cut its emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2020 on 1990 levels. I also want you to put new money on the table for developing countries, rather than money that has been previously announced. And I want you to negotiate with governments from developing countries on an equal basis rather than conducting discussions in secret and bullying them to accept the outcomes. In short, I demand that you begin showing real leadership.

You can contact me by email (preferably - to save resources) or at the following address:

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Ed Milliband and Copenhagen mobilisation

COP out21 December 2009

Taking the lead

Email Ed Miliband

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COP out
21 December 2009