Press release - 21 November, 2013
Warsaw, 21 November 2013 – In regards to the massive NGO walk-out today from the UN climate negotiations, Kumi Naidoo, Executive Director of Greenpeace International said:
"The Polish government has done its best to turn these talks into a showcase for the coal industry. Along with backsliding by Japan, Australia and Canada, and the lack of meaningful leadership from other countries, governments here have delivered a slap in the face to those suffering as a result of dangerous climate change. The EU is being shackled by the Polish government and its friends in the coal industry, and must resume leading on the climate agenda if Paris is going to deliver a treaty that matters."
"China, if anyone, can be a game changer, but it's not yet capitalising on its potential. It has yet to translate its domestic gains on cutting coal use and other climate action into constructive engagement in these talks. 2014 is a critical year – it must be a year of action and ambition on the road to Paris. Each and every country must table new pollution reduction targets, as well as meeting the promises they have already made."
"We believe in this process. We will never give up on it, because people around the world desperately need a global treaty on climate change. But a new treaty must also be meaningful. Warsaw has simply not been good enough. As civil society, we will be back next year with still more voices behind us, with more determination and with more ambition to succeed. We expect governments to do the same."