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Behind the guide lies a detailed assessment of the positions of key heads of state on the issues that will make or break a climate deal at the UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen this December. It assesses their positions regarding emission reductions, a finance mechanism, forest protection, the legal framework of the Copenhagen deal and their domestic action to reduce emissions. Full details are available at http://www.greenpeace.org/climate-politics-guide
The Obama administration is a stand out in the guide for caving into pressure from the fossil fuel industry, instead of adopting policies in line with what climate scientists say is needed to prevent climate chaos. At the eleventh hour, the United States remains the single greatest threat to the success of the negotiations.
“While the guide reveals that there are no climate leaders in the industrialised world, Obama is highlighted as the biggest climate failure,” said Damon Moglen, head of the Greenpeace USA Climate Campaign. “It’s not just about the US weak targets. In its own legislation, the US has built in huge loopholes for polluters. On top of that, it’s now trying to weaken an international agreement – then point at developing nations to cover for its own inadequacies.”
The EU has thrown away its role as a climate leader with its failure to keep emission targets in line with climate science, and its reluctance to commit adequate funding to help the developing world deal with the impacts of climate change. These problems, coupled with patchy member country records, have deprived the talks of leadership just when it is needed most.
Big developing nations such as China and Indonesia, have taken some steps forward, but still they are not enough.
Indonesia needs to commit to zero deforestation and is looking to coal as a means of economic expansion. Lula has rejected implementing a zero deforestation policy and has been encouraging an increase in the use of fossil fuels in the country. No wonder Brazil’s record on renewable investment is poor. China needs to do more to reduce coal use to complement its massive investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency, but in many areas developing nations outperform their developed country counterparts.
"Whilst President Yudhoyono has improved his rhetoric on climate change in recent weeks, Greenpeace is concerned that his international commitments will be fatally undermined by his ministries who are continuing to allow the palm oil and pulp and paper industries to expand into the rainforest. His new cabinet cannot allow this to happen," said Bustar Maitar, Greenpeace Southeast Asia Forest campaigner, speaking from Greenpeace’s ‘Climate Defender’s Camp’ in Sumatra.
"Greenpeace is calling on the President to support and implement a zero deforestation plan. Given forest and peatland destruction accounts for 80% of Indonesia's emissions, this would dramatically improve his position in the league table." Maitar added.
“Some developing countries are making the great efforts to avert climate chaos while the industrialised countries are spending more time trying to think up ways to downplay the chances of a good deal than they are in trying to get one,” said Ailun Yang of Greenpeace China
“The lives of hundreds of millions of people are on the line, along with the fate of countless species. We know where, what and who the problems are, we know what a successful deal looks like. Now it’s up to our leaders to get it done.”
