Archived press release

Obama and Hu agree to aim for climate targets in Copenhagen

17 November 2009

Commenting on today's joint statement by US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao declaring that they aimed to make real progress in tackling climate change at next month's UN climate summit through "an accord that covers all the issues in the negotiations and one that has immediate operational effect", Friends of the Earth's Executive Director Andy Atkins said:

"Today's agreement by the US and China recognising that major progress on tackling climate change can still be made in Copenhagen is a positive development following weeks of lowered expectations - both nations must now use their substantial political clout to make this happen.

"At the very least the world's richest nations must agree to substantially slash their emissions between 2012 and 2016 - as most of them are legally obliged to do under the Kyoto climate treaty - and agree a comprehensive finance and technology package to allow developing countries to develop cleanly and deal with the impacts of climate change.

"And the United States, which didn't sign up to Kyoto despite being the world's largest per capita polluter, must face up to its moral responsibilities by making similar cuts and providing hard cash.

"The alarm bells are ringing - rich country leaders must wake up to the threat of climate change and ensure that Copenhagen makes real progress in creating a low-carbon future for us all."

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