Archived press release

Bangkok UN climate meeting ends

9 October 2009

Responding to the conclusion of the latest UN Framework Convention on Climate Change intercessional meeting in Bangkok, Friends of the Earth international climate campaigner, Tom Picken said:

"Rich countries are holding our world's future to ransom by failing to acknowledge that they must cut their own emissions first and fastest if we're to see any progress in the run-up to Copenhagen.

"The UK, along with other EU countries, has signalled they will abandon their legally binding commitments under the Kyoto Protocol and instead support weak US proposals based on voluntary pledges. This is totally unacceptable - rich countries must acknowledge they have a legal and moral responsibility to lead on tackling climate change.

"The Government must also drop its support for expanding carbon markets to include rainforests, a scheme which will do nothing to tackle climate change but will trigger a land grab leaving millions of people worse off."

Friends of the Earth is demanding that the Government changes its approach to climate change with its Demand Climate Change campaign. The green campaign group is asking everyone to sign its international petition to world leaders for a strong and fair climate deal at www.demandclimatechange.org.

Friends of the Earth is calling for:
* The Government to abandon its promotion of carbon offsetting - a con which means avoiding real action at home through dodgy accounting - and pledge to cut emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2020 at home;
* Rich countries to acknowledge their legal and moral responsibility to provide new money for developing countries, distributed through the UN, so that they can grow cleanly and adapt to the effects of climate change which are already putting millions of lives at risk;
* Proposals to be scrapped which would allow rich countries to buy chunks of forest whilst continuing to pump out emissions: an approach which won't solve climate change or halt deforestation.

Notes to Editors:

1. Friends of the Earth is part of Stop Climate Chaos Coalition, the UK's largest group of people dedicated to action on climate change and limiting its impact on the world's poorest communities. The coalition's supporter base of more than 11 million people spans over 100 organisations, from environment and development charities to unions, faith, community and women's groups. Together we demand practical action by the UK to keep temperatures well below an average 2 degree rise. For further information visit www.stopclimatechaos.org.

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust