Archived press release

UN summit fails world - no action on climate change

16 September 2005

The United Nations (UN) Summit, which ends today in New York, has been criticised by Friends of the Earth for failing to agree any firm action on climate change.

The final outcome document of the Summit does not recognise the immense challenge to stabilise the world's climate, and the threat that climate change poses upon reaching the UN Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

The Summit text being put forward today reveals that no progress has been made on climate change. Circulation of previous drafts demonstrates that the outcome document has been significantly weakened through the negotiation process.

The final Summit document rightly refers to the role of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol but it does not go far enough in recognising the authority of the November 2005 UN Climate Summit in Montreal (Canada) to begin negotiations for the post 2012 international climate commitments.

Friends of the Earth International Climate Campaigner Catherine Pearce said:

"World leaders have clearly failed to face up to the urgent need to take action on climate change. This Summit was a golden opportunity for the UN to commit resources to and support some of the world's poorest countries who will face the harshest impacts of the world's changing climate."

"The international community must recognise the need to assist poorer countries in dealing with the impacts of climate change. Money must be made available to help countries adapt to the changing climate, and also to cope with climate disasters,"

"The scientific evidence clearly shows that climate change is happening and that greenhouse gas emissions must be curbed. Unless urgent action is taken by the richest, industrialised nations to reduce emissions, the poverty reduction envisaged by the Millennium Development Goals will not be achieved [1]."

The potential and capacity for renewable sources of energy to reduce poverty and improve sustainable development in developing countries is poorly acknowledged in the final Summit outcomes.

Friends of the Earth also criticised the final text for failing to recognise that the conservation and sustainable use of the natural environment is a pre-condition for poverty eradication and human well-being, as concluded by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.

The recommendations on international environmental governance that were agreed at the 2000 UN Millennium Summit form a clear mandate for the UN General Assembly to discuss the transformation of the UN Environment Program into a specialized agency financed by assessed mandatory contributions from UN member states.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust