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COPENHAGEN, DENMARK, December 18, 2009 - Commenting on the failure of rich country governments to secure a strong and fair UN agreement to tackle climate change in Copenhagen, Magda Stoczkiewicz, director of Friends of the Earth Europe said:

"Politicians cannot call this 'outcome' a success when in fact nothing meaningful has been agreed. Negotiations must now become even more intense to reach a just and effective climate agreement.

"The European Union and other rich countries have stood motionless when giant strides forward are required given the scale and urgency of the climate crisis facing the world.

"The world now needs a bold dramatic shift in political will from the European Union and other developed nations responsible for causing the climate crisis.

"With the eyes of the world on Copenhagen, Europe had the chance to commit to stronger action against climate change and break the deadlock, but EU leaders backed out of offering higher emissions reductions targets and adequate funds for developing countries.

"European and other developed countries must commit to at least 40% emissions reductions by 2020 without offsetting, and supply the money developing countries desperately need to deal with climate change. Failure to do so is shameful."

Nnimmo Bassey, chair of Friends of the Earth International, stated: "Copenhagen has been an abject failure. Justice has not been done. By delaying action, rich countries have condemned millions of the world's poorest people to hunger, suffering and loss of life as climate change accelerates. The blame for this disastrous outcome is squarely on the developed nations.

"We are disgusted by the failure of rich countries to commit to the emissions reductions they know are needed, especially the US, which is the world's largest historical emitter of greenhouse gases.

"The only real leadership at the conference has come from the hundreds of thousands of ordinary people who've come together to demand strong action to prevent climate catastrophe. Their voices are loud and growing - and Friends of the Earth International will continue to be part of the fight for climate justice."

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For more information please contact:

Francesca Gater, communications officer for Friends of the Earth Europe, +45 298 42677 (Danish mobile) or +32 4 85 930 515 (Belgian mobile), francesca.gater[at]foeeurope.org

Sonja Meister, climate campaign coordinator for Friends of the Earth Europe, +45 617 27520 (Danish mobile) or +49 1766 4608515 (German mobile), sonja.meiste[at]foeeurope.org

Magda Stoczkiewicz, director of Friends of the Earth Europe, + 32 4 75 867 637 (Belgian mobile), magda.stoczkiewicz[at]foeeurope.org