Archived press release

Ed Miliband launches 'Beyond Copenhagen' plan - Friends of the Earth reaction

31 March 2010

Speaking in response to the launch of the Government's international climate change action plan, 'Beyond Copenhagen', Friends of the Earth's executive director Andy Atkins said:

"The Government rightly recognises that only the UN negotiations can deliver strong and fair action to tackle climate change - this is especially welcome in light of the UK's support for the weak Copenhagen Accord agreed last December.

"It's positive that the Government has restated its commitment to the Kyoto Protocol, which enshrines the responsibility of rich countries, as the biggest historical polluters, to slash their emissions first and fastest.

"However, tough action is the only way to show developing countries that the UK is serious about taking sufficient measures to avoid the very worst impacts of climate change.

"At a minimum the Government must push the EU to increase the target for cuts to at least 40 per cent by 2020, without resorting to carbon offsetting.

"Ministers must also push other countries to support a tax on financial transactions to generate the billions of dollars that developing countries need to grow cleanly and adapt to the impacts of climate change already wreaking havoc."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1. Friends of the Earth is calling for rich countries to increase their level of ambition to cut their emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2020, without carbon offsetting. This is the minimum the science says is required.
2. The green campaigning charity is also calling on rich countries to reaffirm their commitment to the Kyoto Protocol, under which rich countries accept their responsibility for causing climate change and agree to cut their emissions first and fastest.
3. Friends of the Earth is also calling on the world's rich countries to recommit to the UN negotiating process, enshrining the principles of democracy and inclusion, rather than pursuing action through alternative forums such as the G20 or the Major Economies Forum.

4. Friends of the Earth is supporting the campaign for a tax on financial transactions - a Robin Hood Tax - to provide finance for developing countries to develop cleanly and adapt to the effects of climate change. http://robinhoodtax.org.uk

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust