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Gordon Brown right to acknowledge importance of global climate deal
19 October 2009
Commenting on Gordon Brown's speech to the 17 countries of the Major Economies Forum on the need for an agreement at the forthcoming UN talks on global warming, Friends of the Earth's Executive Director Andy Atkins said:
"Gordon Brown has rightly identified the vital importance of securing a strong and fair climate agreement at Copenhagen - the economic and environmental impacts of failing to tackle global warming will dwarf anything that we have seen before.
"Rich nations like Britain hold the key to success. They have done most to create this crisis, so they must show genuine leadership in tackling it.
"So far developed countries have not delivered: they have not promised to cut their emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2020 without carbon offsetting, nor have they pledged sufficient funds to enable poor nations to develop cleanly and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
"But it's not all doom and gloom. Seizing the huge benefits of developing green technology, renewable energy and slashing energy waste will help create a safer, cleaner future for us all.
"The next few weeks are crucial in determining the long-term future of the planet. The world must pull back from the brink and take urgent action to slash its emissions."
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Oct 2009
