Press release - 8 April, 2009
As the climate talks in Bonn limped to a close today, Greenpeace called for Heads of State to take personal responsibility for progressing 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 ice caps have continued to melt at alarming rates and flash floods have devastated parts of Australia," said Stephanie Tunmore of Greenpeace International.
"As things stand, this exact same meeting will be repeated in June. Heads of State need to give these talks some urgently needed leadership and direction if we are to avert catastrophic climate change."
The Obama administration was represented in the climate negotiations for the first time and the positive re-engagement of the US lifted the atmosphere somewhat. However, little or no formal progress was made on key issues and decisions.
"With the US back on board there are the beginnings of a better atmosphere and hopefully that will grease the wheels of progress in the future. However, industrialised countries failed to agree what we all need to see - targets for reducing greenhouse gases and money on the table for poorer countries to pay for climate impacts they're already suffering, for stopping deforestation and help them take action at home."
She said the US must come back to the process with solid proposals in June and the rest of the industrialised world must knuckle down and close the gap between what is on the table and what is needed. Specifically, that means developed countries must come up with €110 billion (USD 140 billion) a year, along with cuts of 40% by 2020 - at 1990 levels.
"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. Greenpeace will be working on behalf of the billions of people who will suffer to make sure that happens."
Other contacts: Cindy Baxter, Greenpeace International,(Local number) +49 170 195 5833 or +31 646 197 332Stephanie Tunmore, Greenepeace International, +44 7796 947 451