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UK must show stronger leadership in climate talks
5 December 2005
The UK Presidency of the European Union is putting the future of the Montreal climate talks at risk, Friends of the Earth warned today, as negotiations moved into the crucial second week.
Friends of the Earth said that the EU's insistence on opening the door to a non-target based approach to tackling climate change is undermining international consensus on the need for urgent action.
This weekend thousands of people around the world marched to demand action to tackle climate change.
Friends of the Earth Executive Director Tony Juniper said:
"Whatever happened to Tony Blair's commitment to tackling climate change? Under his presidency, the European Union seems to have completely misread the situation here in Montreal. There is no question of the United States administration coming on board at these talks and the EU and the UK Presidency are wasting their time by trying to convince them.
"What is needed is clear leadership from the EU to show that action can be taken with or without the US. American people, business, state and city leaders want to see international action. The world cannot afford to wait for regime change in the US. It must go ahead and make a firm commitment to clear targets for tackling climate change as Kyoto moves into its second phase. "
Background information
www.foe.co.uk/resource/media_briefing/montrealclimatetalks.pdf (PDF)
Download Photos of Friends of the Earth International's Climate Mosaic in Montreal: www.foe.co.uk/resource/images/cop11_montreal
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jun 2008
