Press release - 22 November, 2013
Warsaw, 22 November 2013 – Today, on the official closing day of the UN climate negotiations and following yesterday’s civil society walk out, Kumi Naidoo, Executive Director of Greenpeace said:
“This was a sham. It was supposed to be about increasing emission cuts, but what we saw was the opposite - Japan lowering its target, Australia rolling back its climate legislation and Brazil reporting a 28% increase of its deforestation rate. Furthermore, the complete failure of rich countries to deliver on existing promises on long-term finance is putting the most vulnerable people at risk.”
“Too many governments, North and South, continue to block progress towards a new global climate agreement while serving their coal and oil lobbies, rather than their people. Greenpeace, looking into the future, expects to see a new kind of leadership from emerging economies. They have become powerful players in the international community. With power comes responsibility.”
Martin Kaiser, Head of the Greenpeace Delegation said:
“China is making big strides domestically in tackling pollution from its coal industry and advancing renewable energy, but is not yet translating it into a willingness to lead at a global level. Brazil is promoting the important principle of historical responsibility, but that’s no excuse for Brazil, or anyone to ditch their responsibilities over their current and future emissions,” said Kaiser.
Greenpeace will be pushing national governments throughout 2014 so that they come to the Ban Ki-Moon summit in September and later the climate conference in Lima, taking with them meaningful emission reduction offers while being prepared to fill the Green Climate Fund. In particular, Greenpeace is expecting concrete proposals in 2014 for reducing climate pollution from China, the US and the European Union – the three biggest emitters. The EU has to immediately raise its weak climate targets and finally fix its stumbling emissions trading scheme.
“People are getting less and less patient with corporate polluters. A growing number of people are prepared to take action against the coal, oil, gas and nuclear industries and demand a different kind of energy system. It was for this cause that our friends, risking their liberty, protested against drilling in the Arctic. The example of the Arctic 30 will continue to be an inspiration to us,” said Kaiser.
“We remain absolutely committed to achieving international co-operation at the United Nations, to protect the world’s citizens from the devastating impacts of climate change and its aftermath,” added Naidoo.
Contacts:
Martin Kaiser, Head of Greenpeace Delegation
Mobile: (PL) +48 518 785 814 (DE) +49 171 8780817
Email: 
Tina Loeffelbein, Head of Media Relations COP19
Mobile: +49 151 167 209 15
Email: 