EU admits global climate change sums don’t add up
In a communication launched on the 9th of March by new Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard, the European Commission admitted for the first time that international climate change sums do not add up.
In its document, ‘Acting now to reinvigorate global action on climate change’, the Commission noted that developed country pledges currently on the table imply a reduction in emissions, but that they fall far short of what is needed to remain below 2°C.
“With the failure of Copenhagen, the Commission has for the first time admitted that current proposals are not enough”, said Tom Sharman, ActionAid’s Climate Justice Co-ordinator.
“Such honesty is refreshing but must be followed up by continued action from the EU and its member states to cut emissions, if they expect others to follow suit”.
Commissioner Hedegaard also announced that a legally binding agreement was not expected until 2011, dashing hopes of a deal in Cancun this December.
She reiterated the EU’s commitment to the UN negotiations process, noting that the Commission would make full use of the instruments available under the recent institutional reforms to push for progress in the run up to the 2011 conference in South Africa.
ActionAid calls on Commissioner Hedegaard to attend the ‘World People’s Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth’ in Bolivia this April which is aimed at bolstering the call for a real climate deal.
Tom Sharman: “Developing countries are being hit hardest by climate change so Commissioner Hedegaard should make the Bolivia conference a priority, so that she can hear their voices first hand”.
