Archived press release

Major economies must lead on tackling climate change

18 October 2009

Speaking in advance of the Major Economies Forum, being held behind closed doors and hosted by Ed Miliband in London from 18 to 19 October, Friends of the Earth International Climate Campaigner Asad Rehman said:

"Shady negotiations and backroom deals are no way to secure a strong and fair global agreement to tackle climate change.

"The rich countries of the Major Economies Forum must urgently put new money on the table to ensure the developing world can grow cleanly and adapt to the effects of climate change which are already putting millions of lives at risk."

The world's major economies are in meeting London in an attempt to boost stalling climate negotiations - yet they are meeting in private and outside of the official UN negotiating process ahead of crucial climate change talks in Copenhagen this December.

Friends of the Earth international climate campaigner Asad Rehman added:

"Time is running out - the developed nations must stop blocking progress on a climate deal and face up to their legal and moral responsibility by agreeing to cut their emissions first and fastest.

"The UN climate talks in Copenhagen this December are heading towards deadlock - Ed Miliband should show real leadership by committing to binding cuts, putting new money on the table and ensuring that the UK respects the Kyoto Protocol and stops playing such a destructive role in the negotiations.

"Only bold pledges by rich countries to slash their emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2020 without carbon offsetting and a commitment to provide at least $200bn of new money will break the current logjam."

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 two 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