Katowice, Poland \u2013 Just two months after the UN\u2019s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned we have 12 years left to save the world, COP24 ended with no clear promise of enhanced climate action.<\/p>\n\n
COP24 led to an approved Paris Agreement rulebook, but no clear, collective commitment to enhance climate action targets \u2013 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) \u2013 was reached despite expectations that Katowice would deliver step-change.<\/p>\n\n
Greenpeace International Executive Director Jennifer Morgan said:<\/p>\n\n
\u201cA year of climate disasters and a dire warning from the world\u2019s top scientists should have led to so much more. Instead, governments let people down again as they ignored the science and the plight of the vulnerable. Recognising the urgency of raised ambition and adopting a set of rules for climate action is not nearly enough when whole nations face extinction.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cWithout immediate action, even the strongest rules will not get us anywhere. People expected action and that is what governments did not deliver. This is morally unacceptable and they must now carry with them the outrage of people and come to the UN Secretary General\u2019s summit in 2019 with higher climate action targets.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
Greenpeace urges governments to ramp up action immediately and prove they have heard the demands of people. The IPCC report should be the call to action \u2013 action that matches the pace and scale of the threat.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cWe continue to witness an irresponsible divide between the vulnerable island states and impoverished countries pitted against those who would block climate action or who are immorally failing to act fast enough. People are fed up, outraged at these injustices and are taking action to defend their homes and children and pushing their leaders to act. These people are the hope of our generation and governments must finally stand with them and give us all reasons for hope,\u201d Morgan added.<\/p>\n\n
Greenpeace East Asia Senior Global Policy Advisor Li Shuo said:<\/p>\n\n
\u201cIf Paris set the destination, the rulebook is the roadmap to get there. We\u2019ve now got a solid rulebook with binding common rules to ensure that climate actions can be compared and the concerns of vulnerable countries taken into account. Completing the rulebook demonstrates the resolve of major emerging economies to do more. It also signals clear support for multilateralism and that rules are still possible despite turbulent geopolitics. These rules now provide a backbone to the Paris Agreement and must be strengthened in coming years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
Greenpeace Poland campaigner Pawel Szypulski said:<\/p>\n\n
\u201cIn Poland, there\u2019s a clear rift between political elites who are guilty of a lack of ambition and are supporting the continued use of coal while people are calling for strong climate action. Two out of three Poles support a coal phase-out by 2030. The science is clear, we\u2019ve got 12 years left and the technical means to avoid catastrophe. Now politicians need to listen and act.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
ENDS<\/p>\n\n
Contacts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Aaron Gray-Block, Greenpeace International: aaron.gray-block@greenpeace. Maria Elena De Matteo, Global Communications Strategist, Greenpeace East Asia: mariaelena.dematteo@