Press release - November 19, 2009
Brussels, International — Greenpeace welcomed this evening’s statements by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen on the Copenhagen climate negotiations. Speaking ahead of a EU summit in Brussels, President Sarkozy urged world leaders to deliver “binding rules” and “binding commitments” in Copenhagen in December. Greenpeace fully supports the call to avoid “negative compromises” in Copenhagen.
"Merkel and Sarkozy have shown the world that the ball is firmly in Obama's court. For Copenhagen to be more than a photo op, Obama must turn his campaign promises into action. Copenhagen must deliver what the planet needs: a comprehensive and binding climate deal," said Joris den Blanken, Greenpeace EU climate policy director.
The EU can also do more to improve the chances of success in Copenhagen. On Monday 23 November, European environment ministers will meet in Brussels, in the presence of UN climate chief Yvo de Boer, for a final discussion on EU pledges for the future climate agreement. EU governments have so far committed to a unilateral 20% emission reduction target by 2020 and a 30% target under a new climate agreement. But thanks to various loopholes, such as carbon offsetting, and emission reductions stemming from the economic slowdown, the EU is on the verge of meeting its 20% target already with no new effort whatsoever.
"If the EU is really committed to getting a strong deal in Copenhagen, it must unilaterally upgrade its emission reduction target for 2020. This would send a powerful signal to the negotiations," said den Blanken. Scientists are calling for a 40% reduction in emissions in industrialised countries by 2020, compared to 1990 levels, in order to keep global warming below dangerous levels.