Campaign In Action

Nations Seal a Deal at Climate Change UN Talks

alt alt

Copenhagen, 19 December 2009--After a marathon all night session, talks aimed at injecting new and more wide-ranging momentum into the international effort to combat climate change ended with a positive outcome.

Countries attending the UN climate convention’s summit in the Danish capital agreed to ‘take note’ of a document entitled the Copenhagen Accord.

For the first time in the history of climate change cooperation, developing countries including Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa and the small and threatened Republic of the Maldives outlined intentions to decouple emissions from economic growth.

Developed countries including the United State, will also outline a range of emission reductions targets up to 2020 by 1 February 2010.

Both commitments and intentions in terms of greenhouse gas reductions will be subject to international monitoring and verification.

Countries accepted to work towards limiting the rise in global temperatures to below 2 degree C above pre-industrial levels.

However emission reduction commitments by 2050, were in the end, not included in the final document.

BAN ENTREATS LEADERS TO SEAL CLIMATE DEAL ON FINAL DAY OF COPENHAGEN TALKS

The eyes of the world are on world leaders gathered in Copenhagen, Denmark, today, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, calling on nations to ‘seal the deal’ on an ambitious new climate change agreement for the sake of humanity.

"Never has the world united on such a scale," Mr. Ban told the more than 100 heads of State and government, including United States President Barack Obama, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, at the landmark United Nations conference that is scheduled to wrap up today in the Danish capital.

"We are closer than ever to the world’s first truly global agreement to limit and reduce greenhouse gas emissions," the Secretary-General.

Designer Vivienne Westwood & Artist Maya Lin Call for Crucial Forest Agreement at COP 15

Heads of state from Guyana, Gabon and Papua New Guinea, as well as artists, and fashion designers turned out in force for the world's forests at a special gala event in Copenhagen.

The event, during the UN climate change meeting, was aimed at supporting more funding toward slowing deforestation, a major contributor to climate change, also linked to poverty.

So far, six developed countries have committed $3.5 billion (€2.4bn) in early funding for forest preservation in the first concrete financial commitment in Copenhagen.

Ban Ki-moon tells Copenhagen summit to 'seal a deal'

Three days of action from ministers are needed to "seal a deal" at the climate talks in Copenhagen, according to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Speaking at the opening of the high-level segment, he told delegates they had the chance to change history.

But governments remain deadlocked on many key issues, including the size of emission targets, finance, and verification of emission curbs.

Demonstrations are expected on Wednesday as ministers convene.

Maathai Presents People's Orb to World Leaders at COP 15 with a Strong Call to Seal the Deal!

15 December 2009, Copenhagen / Denmark – Moments following her induction as UN Messenger of Peace, Nobel Laureate and UNEP Patron of the Billion Tree Campaign, Wangari Maathai, addressed the opening of the High Level Segment of the UN climate conference, calling on leaders to reach a fair, ambitious and legally-binding agreement in Copenhagen.

Maathai told politicians that while "They cannot negotiate with the environment they can negotiate with each other."

Maathai's call reiterated that of the UN Secretary General's, who told heads of state attending the opening, "Our job here and now is to seal the deal … a deal that is in our common interest. For three years I have sought to bring world leaders to the table to solve climate change. Now they are coming. Three years of effort have come down to three days of action."

In her address, Maathai said it was up to the developing world to convince the developed world that the threat of climate change is real, calling on nations to invest in the preservation of forests as a first line of defense against climate change.

Page 1 of 26