Archived press release

Poorest lose out at climate talks

18 December 2004

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA, December 18, 2004 - A deal was reached at United Nations (UN) climate change talks that ended in Buenos Aires today, only two months before the UN Kyoto Climate Treaty enters into force.

The world's largest contributor to global warming -the United States- and its main ally at these talks Saudi Arabia -the globe's largest oil producer-desperately but unsuccessfully tried to prevent the rest of the world from taking the next step at this climate change conference. But the deal failed to address the most urgent needs of the poorest, which are the most affected by climate change.

Friends of the Earth International's climate campaigner, Roque Pedace, said:

"This conference was supposed to address ways to reduce global greenhouse emissions and agree on support for least developed countries already suffering from the impacts of climate change. In the end a deal was reached but because of the US and Saudi Arabia's position, the world's poorest countries are not receiving the support they need. We urge governments to take real action now"

"The least developed countries and in particular small island states - the nations most at risk from climate change - did not get from the conference strong commitments to help them confront climate change."

Global warming is caused by harmful greenhouse gases. Most of them are released by the richest nations of the planet, causing rising temperatures and more extreme weather events such as droughts and floods.

The Kyoto Climate Protocol is the only international treaty aimed at reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases. It will enter into force upon its 128 Parties on 16 February 2005 when thirty industrialised nations will be legally bound to meet quantitative targets for reducing or limiting their greenhouse gas emissions.

Scientists worldwide agree that man-made climate change is already taking place, even though the US administrationdenies this. (1) An increasing number of people, states and groups have started using the courts for climate cases, which for now cover seven countries.

Notes

(1) Science magazine Dec. 3, 2004 vol 306 "The Scientific Consensus on Climate Change"

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust