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Press release
Bonn, Germany, 8 June 2009: Climate change experts from leading non-governmental organisations today unveiled their blueprint for a legally binding Copenhagen agreement. This will serve as the benchmark for governments negotiating a new climate deal this year and shows how major differences between rich and poor nations can be overcome.
The 140-page "Copenhagen Climate Treaty", which will be distributed to negotiators from 192 states, took some of the world's most experienced climate NGO's almost a year to write and contains a full legal text covering all the main elements needed to provide the world with a fair and ambitious agreement that keeps climate change impacts below the unacceptable risk levels identified by most scientists.
"This is the first time in history that a coalition of civil society groups has taken such a step. Together we have produced the most coherent legal document to date showing balanced and credible climate solutions based on equity and science" said Kim Carstensen of WWF International.
The document describes the path the world must be on to avoid catastrophic climate change, recognising that global temperature increase must be kept well below 2 degrees Celsius. It sets a global cap on emissions - a carbon budget - and explains in detail how both industrialised and developing countries can contribute to the safety of the planet and its people, according to their means and responsibilities and shows how the poorest and most vulnerable on the planet can be protected and compensated.
"We have put protection of the climate and therefore the planet and its people at the heart of this Treaty and we should expect and demand no less of our governments" said Martin Kaiser of Greenpeace International. "All that is needed now is political will and the 'cut and paste' feature to produce the agreement the world is waiting for" he added.
Adaptation is another key component of the Treaty outlining an Adaptation Action Framework which includes financial support, insurance and a process that looks into compensation for the most vulnerable countries.
"Help for the poor and vulnerable to deal with the climate impacts that are unavoidable is crucial. Without a strong, effective deal in Copenhagen we could also be looking at more resource wars, disruption, refugees and natural catastrophes in the very near future," said Wael Hmaidan, IndyACT.
The Treaty calls for a legally binding agreement consisting of three parts; the Kyoto Protocol, updated to strengthen industrialised country obligations; a new Copenhagen Protocol that has legally binding commitments for the USA and sets out low carbon pathways for developing countries, supported by the industrialised world; a set of decisions that lays the groundwork for action up to 2012.
The 'Copenhagen Climate Treaty',
was drafted by Greenpeace, WWF, IndyACT - the League of Independent Activists,
Germanwatch, David Suzuki Foundation, National Ecological Centre of Ukraine
and expert individuals from around the world.
Further information
Notes to EditorsThe Copenhagen Climate Treaty includes:
1. Kim Carstensen, Leader, WWF Global
Climate Initiative, E: k.carstensen@wwf.dk, M: +45-40-343635; Kathrin Gutmann,
Head of Policy, WWF Global Climate Initiative, E: kathrin.gutmann @wwf.de,
M: +49-162-2914428
2. Wael Hmaidan, IndyACT- the League
of Independent Activists, E: whmaidan@indyact.org, Tel/Fax: +961-1-447192
3. Christoph Bals, Executive Director
Policy, Germanwatch, +49 174 3275669.
4. Martin Kaiser, Climate Political
Coordinator, Greenpeace International, martin.kaier@greenpeace.org,
+49 171 8780817
5. David Marshall, David Suzuki
Foundation, E:dmarshall@davidsuzuki.org
6. Irina Stavchuk, National Ecological
Centre of Ukraine, tel: +38(044)238-62-60, E: irina.stavchuk@necu.org.ua
For more information or interview arrangements contact: