Bangkok, Thailand – As UN climate talks in Bangkok wrapped up on Sunday ahead of COP24 in Katowice in December, Greenpeace East Asia Global Climate Political Advisor Taehyun Park made the following statement:
“These talks have been beset with tension and parties have wrestled with reaching a balanced proposal on the Paris rulebook. Progress has slowed, leaving the heavy lifting for COP24. A leadership deficit is the root cause of this slow pace and needs to be immediately addressed. The upcoming California Climate Summit, New York UN Climate Week and Pre-COP must now be leveraged to unlock contentious issues like finance and differentiation.
“We need to make faster progress. Climate change is no longer a far off threat, it is something we’re all facing in the real world today, with devastating effect.
“In a couple of weeks the IPCC will remind us of the frightening impacts we’ll all experience if we fail to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. There is no time to waste. We must reflect on the new science showing the Paris goals are still within reach if we act now and come to COP24 prepared to get to work and raise our ambition.
“All parties, including the Polish Presidency, must now reflect on their responsibilities to both people and planet and play their part to ensure the spirit of Paris will be put to work in Katowice.”
ENDS
Contacts:
Greenpeace International Press Desk, [email protected], phone: +31 (0) 20 718 2470 (available 24 hours)