2007

Kyoto afloat despite attempted sabotage
1 December 2007

Tensions were high at the end of the recent UN climate negotiations in Bali. So tense that negotiators failed to reach an agreement on the final night. The talks were forced to overrun by an extra day.

The final result? A vague commitment to address climate change - after the first stage of the Kyoto Protocol ends in 2012.

Friends of the Earth is disappointed with the outcome. The negotiations wasted valuable time and missed an important opportunity for international agreement. 

Inside the talks

Most worrying was the intense pressure from the US and Canada to derail any chance of reaching a strong agreement. 

The US are behaving like first-class passengers on a jumbo jet who believe an emergency in economy class does not affect them. But if we go down, we go down together and the US needs to realise that very quickly.

Tony Juniper, Director, Friends of the Earth

On the positive side the European Union and a group of developing countries called for tough new emissions cuts.

These targets were finally watered-down to a mere footnote in the final text.

Climate justice

One thing that's been really encouraging is the recognition that climate change is a justice issue.

It's the global poor who will be hit hardest and we need solutions that will help poorer nations adapt and build low carbon economies.

Friends of the Earth Indonesia (Walhi) were among
a wide range of social justice groups represented.

The future

We now have two years left to ensure a global climate deal is reached. The next stage of the Kyoto Protocol needs to be signed by 2009 - so it can come in effect at the end of the current agreement in 2013.

Friends of the Earth will be doing all it can to get the international climate agreement we need. 

A growing movement is calling for climate justice and we must now demand the political will needed to ensure a just, secure and healthy future for all.

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