Archived press release

Obama must keep pledge on climate change leadership

19 January 2009

Urgent action to tackle the climate crisis must be Barack Obama's top priority when he becomes US President on Tuesday 20 January 2009, Friends of the Earth said today.

This year is crucial if the world is to avoid the worst impacts of catastrophic climate change - global leaders must agree a tough new climate change deal at the UN negotiations in Copenhagen in December.

Friends of the Earth welcomes Obama's promise to become a world leader in tackling climate change - but warns that urgent and comprehensive action is needed to make this a reality. US emissions have risen by more than 14 per cent since 1990.

World leaders from rich countries must commit to reducing their own emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2020 at home - without offsetting abroad - and provide developing countries with at least $200 billion annually so they can grow their economies using clean technologies and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Friends of the Earth's Executive Director, Andy Atkins, said:

"Tackling climate change must be at the heart of Barack Obama's presidency."

"The denial and obstruction of the Bush administration have lost the world vital years in preventing catastrophic climate change."

"The new President must change direction and show bold national and international leadership on this issue - urgently slashing US emissions and showing the rest of the world that a thriving green economy is achievable."

"If the planet is to avoid a climate change catastrophe that will destroy our economies and put millions of lives at risk, the industrialised world must cut its emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2020."

"The international community must reach a global agreement on climate at vital UN talks later this year. The United States is critical to the success of these negotiations - and the long term security of us all."

Notes:

1. Barack Obama has pledged to make the US a leader in tackling climate change: my.barackobama.com/page/content/newenergy

His pledges include:

* Reducing US greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050

Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland's welcomes Obama's ambitious long-term goal of cutting US emissions by 80 per by 2050. But the environmental campaign group is concerned about the rate of reduction over the next 11 years.

Obama has said that US greenhouse gas emissions should return to 1990 levels by 2020. But even the most conservative estimates say that emissions must fall by between 25 and 40 per cent by 2020 (based on 1990 levels) - if catastrophic climate change is to be avoided.

* Developing a low carbon economy that will "help create five million new jobs by strategically investing $150 billion over the next ten years to catalyse private efforts to build a clean energy future."

Friends of the Earth welcomes Obama's plan to simultaneously tackle the economic and environmental challenges the world faces by investing in energy efficiency and green sources of energy.

A green industrial revolution that builds a safe, clean and prosperous future for us all is urgently needed. Cutting energy waste is the most cost-effective way of tackling climate change. It will also reduce dependency on the yoyoing cost of increasingly insecure fossil fuels, cut fuel poverty and slash fuel bills.

Gordon Brown has spoken about adopting a similar plan for the UK - and details are expected later this month. Friends of the Earth is urging the PM to set out a coherent and highly ambitious strategy that gets to the very heart of issue - not just another round of eco-tinkering at the margin.

The Prime Minister must put forward a programme that will lead to UK emissions falling by 40 per cent (of 1990 levels) by 2020 - and not through offsetting.

Unfortunately decisions such as allowing a new runway to be built at Heathrow will seriously undermine UK climate targets.

2. Friends of the Earth is calling for urgent International action to prevent a climate catastrophe. A strong and fair international deal to prevent runaway climate change destroying our planet must be reached at the UN climate summit in Copenhagen at the end of the year. Friends of the Earth says:

* A strong and fair deal in Copenhagen will result in global emissions peaking and starting to decline by 2015 to keep global temperature increases below 2 degrees C.

* World leaders from rich countries must commit to reducing their own countries' emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2020 without offsetting and provide developing countries with at least $200 billion annually so they can develop using clean technologies and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

* Rich countries have created climate change through the pollution they have released over the last 100 years, now they must take the lead in solving the problem.

* Deforestation must be stopped to tackle climate change, halt biodiversity loss, and to safeguard the livelihoods of the millions of people that are dependent on healthy forests for their survival.

* Proposals to allow rich countries to buy chunks of forest while still pumping out carbon emissions won't solve climate change - and it will trigger a land grab leaving millions of people worse off.

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