UN climate talks reach feeble agreement in Durban12 December 2011
By 2015 a new treaty will legally require all countries, including the USA, China, and India, to cut greenhouse gas emissions after 2020.
Ministers agreed the new deal in the early hours of Sunday morning - as the UN climate talks in Durban finally came to a close.
We think the outcomes of the talks are significant, but far too weak to prevent dangerous climate change.
Weaknesses of the agreement
The new treaty won't take effect until 2020. But scientists have warned global emissions need to decline well before 2020 to prevent catastrophic climate change.
This will leave millions at threat from more extreme weather events, like flooding and drought. And will hit the world's poorest people hardest.
Rich countries are responsible for the majority of emissions in the atmosphere and have benefited most from burning fossil fuels. But they are failing to take a lead on cutting emissions - even though they are better placed to tackle climate change.
Delaying action will also fail to
- Drive clean growth.
- Move us away from expensive fossil fuels.
- Create new jobs in renewable energy industry.
"The UN climate change process is still alive - but this empty shell of a plan leaves the planet hurtling towards catastrophic climate change."
Andy Atkins, Director, Friends of the Earth
Saving graces
The agreement is still an important step as all countries have agreed to work on a future agreement.
Other positives include:
- The Kyoto Protocol
is still alive and will continue to be discussed next year. - A Green Climate Fund
to help poor countries - but no money has been put forward for this yet.
Working to make it stronger
Friends of the Earth will now be pushing rich countries to lead the way in reducing emissions and helping developing countries to act.
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Watch Andy Atkins's analysis of the talks.
© adopt a negotiator
