40% rules10 December 2009
A hectic day yesterday, Day 3 of the talks.
One theme throughout was the critical importance of a target of 40 per cent emissions cuts by 2020 - without offsetting.
This is what the science says we need.
Friends of the Earth activists staged a protest inside the main conference centre, with banners demanding that governments commit to cutting 40 per cent of their emisions by 2020.
They were met with cheers from many delegates arriving at the centre.
And Friends of the Earth Director Andy Atkins reiterated the point when he gave an interview to Sky about the progress of the talks.
We also held a press conference to launch a report showing how 40 per cent cuts can be achieved.
This is new independent research by Friends of the Earth Europe with the Stockholm Environment Institute. It demonstrates that we can do what the science demands - without offsetting and without resorting to nuclear power.
Anger
There is still real anger among developing countries that industrial nations are trying to wriggle out of their obligation to reducing their emissions first.
So much so that at one point the talks were suspended because of a protest from delegates from developing countries.
Today (Thursday) European Union representatives meet in Brussels and it's likely they'll be agreeing an emissions target to bring to the negotiations.
We'll be pushing them to come up with the right figure - 40 per cent and nothing less.
There for you
Don't forget you can help us throughout the talks in Copenhagen by signing up to alerts for daily actions that will make a real difference.
Don't forget throughout the talks in Copenhagen by signing up to for that will make a real difference.Check out today's, which is about getting the Canadian government to see sense.
And if you can help financially, this week there's an amazing opportunity for us to double your money - at no extra cost to you.
Thanks to all of you who've acted already.
© Friends of the Earth
