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PM's lack of climate leadership on show at Bonn talks - Greenpeace

April 08, 2009

Bonn, Germany — As the climate talks in Bonn limped to a close today, Greenpeace called for Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and all heads of state to take personal responsibility for progressing global negotiations, as only then will there be a possibility of getting a good deal at the Copenhagen Climate Summit in December.

"The diplomats and negotiators in Bonn have been treading water for two weeks, whilst back in the real world, Australia continues to suffer the effects of climate change with flash flooding in New South Wales,” Greenpeace senior climate campaigner Trish Harrup said.

 

There was little or no formal progress made on key issues and decisions at this – the first global climate talks for the year – and as things stand, this exact same meeting will be repeated in June.

 

“Mr Rudd needs to give these talks some urgently needed leadership and direction if we are to avert catastrophic climate change,” Ms Harrup said.

The most vulnerable nations, including those in the Pacific, Latin America and Africa, have been trying to lock in a deal that will actually reduce greenhouse pollution.

They have called for industrialised countries to cut emissions by more than 40% in a decade, but Australia has been part of a block of nations pushing to have all reference to those numbers removed from the meeting’s conclusions.

“Australia must come back to the June talks with higher targets and offer climate action in line with what the science shows is needed,” Ms Harrup said.

Specifically, that means Australia must halve its emissions in a decade and contribute AUD $2.5 billion a year to an annual, global fund of USD$140 billion which must deliver clean technologies to the developing world, end deforestation, and provide the technology to adapt to climate change.

“We are on the brink of runaway climate change. World leaders need to realise that they can’t change climate science, so they must urgently intervene and change the politics,” Ms Harrup said.

"Greenpeace will be working on behalf of the billions of people who will suffer to make sure that happens.”