Archived press release

Brown speaks at UN climate talks - he must now show leadership in negotiations

17 December 2009

Commenting on Gordon Brown's speech to the UN climate summit in Copenhagen, Friends of the Earth's Executive director Andy Atkins said:

"Gordon Brown has rightly warned of the need for urgent action to avoid catastrophic climate change - but the clock is ticking and we are still a long way short of the political breakthrough that is so desperately needed.

"The world must listen to the alarm bells and wake up to the enormous threat that global warming poses to us all.

"The Prime Minister should show bold international leadership by immediately agreeing to slash UK emissions by at least 42 per cent by 2020, without offsetting.

"The world's wealthiest nations have done most to create this climate crisis, they must show genuine leadership to tackle it."

Notes to Editors:

1. Friends of the Earth is demanding that the Government changes its approach to climate change with its Demand Climate Change campaign. At the Copenhagen talks, Friends of the Earth is calling for:

• Rich countries to fulfil their legal and moral responsibility cut
emissions first and fast - and pledge to cut emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2020 at home without offsetting
• The leaders of rich countries to abandon their promotion of carbon
trading - an irresponsible and dangerous gamble which will do nothing to protect us from catastrophic climate change;
• 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.
For more information and to take action visit www.foe.co.uk

2. 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