COP15: Copenhagen Climate Summit
The largest and most important UN climate change conference in history has started, with diplomats from 192 nations warning that this could be the best, last chance for a deal to protect the world from calamitous global warming.
However, it is now clear that the world is not on track to reach a just, legally binding treaty to tackle climate change fairly or effectively. Despite the fine rhetoric, promises are being rolled back and a political earthquake is essential if we are to contain the climate crisis.
The rich countries of the world are responsible for climate change - while the poor countries bear the burden. It's time to pay our climate debt.
If they really are serious about tackling climate change, rich countries must do two things:
- Make deeper emissions cuts than what they are currently considering so that developing countries have some space to grow their emissions without destroying the planet.
- Provide finance and technology to developing countries to enable them to reduce their emissions, adapt effectively to climate change and chart low-emission pathways out of poverty.
- Find out what is happening on the ground in Copenhagen with our Daily blog from staff, activists and Climate Change Debt Agents
- Press Releases from the Summit. Latest: Mary Robinson and other ‘Icons’ call for shake up of global climate funds
World leaders have failed to save the Cop15 climate talks
The UN climate summit in Copenhagen has formally closed with a deal that falls far short of the action needed to tackle global warming.
Obama Speech holds little hope for saving Climate Change negotiations
Press Release, Friday 18th December 09
"Obama has said nothing to save the Copenhagen conference from failure," said Raman Mehta, ActionAid's climate change expert in Asia.
ActionAid ‘repossesses’ rich countries’ embassies for climate debt default
ActionAid’s Climate Debt Agents today ‘repossessed’ the US, Canadian, Japanese and Swedish embassies, together with the Australian Ambassador’s residence in Copenhagen to symbolise their failure to pay their climate debts at the UN Climate Change Conference.
Copenhagen: Spoof press statements make serious point
Due to it's reluctance to reduce its high levels of pollution, Canada became the target of a press release by ActionAid and The Yes Men. However, there was a serious point to be made.
Speaking out about Climate Change in Vietnam
Two women farmers Phan Thi Anh, 41, and Nguyen Thi Huong, 45, from Ha-tinh province in the middle of Vietnam have come to Copenhagen to let people know what impact climate change is having on their communities.
