Archived press release

Miliband tells Ministers to 'get their act together'

14 December 2009

Commenting on the comments of UK Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband, and his suggestion that negotiators and ministers need to 'get their act together' in Copenhagen, Friends of the Earth's Senior International Climate Campaigner, Asad Rehman, said:

"Ed Miliband is right that negotiators and Ministers need to get their act together - but at the moment rich countries are treating the talks in Copenhagen like a sideshow.

"We urgently need to see the Government commit to new targets under the Kyoto Protocol - this should be the foundation of any agreement in Copenhagen, and rich countries should commit to slashing their emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2020 without carbon offsetting.

"In reiterating his support for a global carbon market, Ed Miliband is flirting with a double whammy of environmental and economic disaster - trading carbon is trading thin air. These proposals risk a speculative bubble similar to the sub- prime mortgage crisis.

"Ministers must instead commit more public money to enable developing countries to grow cleanly and adapt to the impacts of climate change which are already causing suffering to millions around the world."

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.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1. At the Copenhagen talks, Friends of the Earth is calling for:

• Rich countries to fulfil their legal and moral responsibility cut emissions first and fast - and pledge to cut emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2020 at home without offsetting
• The leaders of rich countries to abandon their promotion of carbon
trading - an irresponsible and dangerous gamble which will do nothing to protect us from catastrophic climate change;
• 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.

2. Friends of the Earth International is also one of the key organisers of the alternative people's summit known as the Klimaforum with allied organisations such as La Via Campesina and the World March of Women. Thousands of voices demanding climate justice will also be presented in a 'climate capsule' exhibition at the Klimaforum and Bella Centre.

3. 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