News Release - 15 December 2007
“A road map missing a vital signpost”, was how Tearfund described the global deal on climate change struck at the UN conference in Bali on Saturday (Dec 15).
Without explicit reference in the final document to the need for industrialised countries to cut carbon emissions by 25-40% by 2020, Andy Atkins, Tearfund Advocacy Director, said: “The stalling tactics of the Bush Administration and a few others snatched mediocrity from the jaws of resounding success.”
“The good news is we have a process to negotiate further emissions cuts by 2020. Getting more than 180 countries to agree was no mean feat. But the fact that there is no agreement about exactly how far to cut emissions means the Bali roadmap is missing a vital signpost. An ambitious, science-based target will have to be agreed by 2009 if the new agreement is not to be fatally flawed.
There was significant progress in helping poor countries adapt to the ravages of climate change – for so long a neglected issue - with a commitment for adaptation to be a major building block of any new treaty, alongside emissions cuts.
There was further positive news in the finalising of a special Adaptation Fund, which has the potential to deliver significant funds to grassroots programmes to help poor communities adapt. “It represents some progress, however at least $50 billion a year is needed for adaptation in developing countries, which means we will need much more than just the Adaptation Fund,” says Sarah La Trobe, Senior Policy Analyst at Tearfund.
“We are pleased that adaptation has leapt up the political agenda but money is not yet flowing in the quantity we need. And world leaders must acknowledge that with every delay in taking strong action to cut global emissions, poor people in developing countries have to survive more droughts, floods and more intense storms.”
“Rich countries will have to explore every possible avenue for funding over the next few years if we are to have any chance of meeting our responsibilities to poor people.”
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Contact: Keith Ewing UK mobile +44 (0)7701 051971.