Friends of the Earth Europe

BONN/BRUSSELS, May 31, 2010 – The first major UN climate negotiations following the failure of talks in Copenhagen last December begin today. The European Union must play an active role in progressing the talks by reaffirming its commitment to legally binding emission cuts under the Kyoto Protocol and committing sufficient public money for developing countries to tackle climate change, says Friends of the Earth Europe.

Friends of the Earth Europe is calling on the EU to resist industry lobbying and unilaterally increase its emissions target to at least 40 percent domestic cuts by 2020. 40 percent cuts are not only possible, but affordable and necessary as recent research from Friends of the Earth demonstrates. [1]

Last week, the European Commission published research on the impacts of moving from the current 20 percent unilateral target to a 30 percent. The powerful industry lobby is fiercely resisting this move however, jeopardising EU credibility on the international stage.

Susann Scherbarth, climate justice campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe, said: "Connie Hedegaard has taken a cautious first step in outlining the move to a 30 percent target, but has fallen short of what's needed. Domestic emissions cuts of at least 40 percent by 2020 – without offsetting – are the minimum needed for the EU to do its fair share. A bold move from the EU could unlock the stalled international negotiations, and provide a real boost to our chances of avoiding catastrophic climate change. The new climate commissioner must now take on the powerful lobbies in Europe holding back progress."

Real climate finance needed
Finance for developing countries – those least responsible for climate change yet who face its worst impacts – is top of the agenda for Bonn. Friends of the Earth Europe is calling for all developed countries to pledge sufficient public money through the UNFCCC, additional to existing aid budgets, and ensure this finance supports the aims and struggles of grassroots communities.

Tom Picken, International Climate Campaigner with Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland, said: "Developed countries have so far said they will provide US$10 billion per year until 2013, yet a large proportion of even this paltry amount is intended to be stolen from existing aid budgets instead of comprising new and additional money."

Kyoto targets
Friends of the Earth is calling on rich countries to reaffirm their commitment to their legally binding obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, where rich countries accept their responsibility for causing climate change by agreeing to cut their emissions first and fastest. New Kyoto targets for a second commitment period for industrialised countries of at least 40 per cent reductions - without offsetting – is the minimum requirement to provide any chance of avoiding catastrophic climate change.

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NOTES TO EDITORS

[1] 'Europe's share of the climate challenge – domestic actions and international obligations to protect the planet', SEI, December 2008.

http://www.foeeurope.org/climate/FoEE_SEI_40_study_summary_Dec09.pdf