Archived press release

Major Economies Forum fails to break deadlock on climate negotiations

19 October 2009

Speaking after the conclusion of the Major Economies Forum, hosted by Ed Miliband in London from 18 to 19 October, Friends of the Earth International Climate Campaigner Asad Rehman said:

"The Major Economies Forum appears to have done little to break the current deadlock on negotiating a strong and fair agreement at Copenhagen.

"The industrialised world must inject real urgency into proceedings by putting serious cash on the table. They must commit to providing at least $200 billion each year to enable developing countries to grow cleanly and adapt to the effects of climate change and agree to slash their emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2020, without carbon offsets.

"Any proposals to channel climate finance for developing countries through the World Bank are totally misguided - this bank is heavily involved in funding fossil fuel projects and, because it is controlled by rich countries, the world's poorest communities will have little say over how the money is spent.

"The clock is counting down. Genuine international leadership is desperately needed - and it's needed now."

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