Archived press release

EU finance package ahead of Copenhagen fails to put enough money on the table

30 October 2009

Commenting on the EU announcing a climate finance package, Friends of the Earth's Senior International Climate Campaigner Asad Rehman said:

"Gordon Brown claims the EU is a world leader on climate change - yet the money on the table is nowhere near enough ensure developing countries can grow cleanly and adapt to the effects of climate change already causing suffering for millions of the world's poorest people.

"Most of this cash would come from a global carbon market rather than from European governments themselves - yet rich countries, including the UK, are some of the chief culprits for causing climate change and have a responsibility to provide this money from the public purse.

"Relying on a dodgy market system like carbon trading to reduce emissions is irresponsible and dangerous - the EU must commit to cutting its emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2020 at home by investing in renewable energy generation and slashing energy waste."

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