Durban, South Africa / Brussels, Belgium, December 11, 2011 - UN climate negotiations have ended in Durban, South Africa with an agreement by consensus. But the lack of ambition will not
prevent the suffering of millions of people in Africa and across the world due
to climate change.
Susann Scherbarth, climate justice
campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe
said: “Justice has been lost in this process. For yet another year the
international climate talks have failed to make real progress to tackle climate
change. Developed countries spent their time trying to unravel previous
agreements and shift the burden on to poorer nations like China or India. In India, millions of people live on less than 1 US-$ per day. The agreed “Durban package” is nothing more than smoke and mirrors – an illusion of ambition with no
real targets or timelines. In fact rich nations, including the European Union,
must go home and recognise their historical responsibilities and urgently
commit to higher ambitions. At least 40% emission reductions by 2020 without
offsetting are necessary.”
“Rich countries want a deal where they
continue to pollute, their corporations profit from pollution and destructive
carbon trading, and the poor and the most vulnerable to climate change pay the
price. It is clear in whose interests they were working here in Durban, and it wasn’t the 99% of people around the world,” said
Bobby Peek of Groundwork / Friends of the Earth South Africa.
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For more information, please contact:
Susann Scherbarth, climate justice campaigner
for Friends of the Earth Europe, susann.scherbarth@foeeurope.org
Bobby Peek, Director of Friends of the Earth South Africa / Groundwork, bobby@groundwork.org.za
Francesca Gater, communications officer for
Friends of the Earth Europe, Tel: +32 2893 1010, +32 485 930515,
francesca.gater[at]foeeurope.org
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