Archived press release

Rich countries scheme to ditch Kyoto targets

5 November 2009

Rich countries are deliberately attempting to sidetrack UN climate negotiations towards a weak, ineffective politically binding agreement in Copenhagen - rather than fulfilling their legal obligations to agree ambitious new targets to slash their emissions - at the conclusion of the latest round of UN climate negotiations in Barcelona, warns Friends of the Earth (6 November 2009).

Friends of the Earth's Executive Director Andy Atkins said:

"We have seen rich countries continually seeking to ditch emissions targets under the Kyoto Protocol.

"They are tearing down an existing, legally binding international framework, which has taken years of negotiation to establish, in an attempt to wriggle out of their responsibility to cut their emissions first and fastest.

"Rich countries must agree to ambitious new targets - of at least 40 per cent by 2020 without carbon offsetting - under the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol if we're to have any reasonable chance of avoiding a climate catastrophe and breaking the deadlock in negotiations."

Friends of the Earth is running an international petition demanding industrialised countries turn climate justice into reality, asking new targets of at least 40 per cent emissions reductions, without offsetting compared to 1990 levels as well as sufficient public finance for adaptation and climate protection in the global south. The world's people are demanding real action.

For more information visit: www.demandclimatejustice.org

If you are a journalist seeking press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

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Archived press release

Rich countries scheme to ditch Kyoto targets

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