Sunday, November 8, 2009

[pima.nius] PR ISLAND STATES OUTRAGED AT ATTEMPTS TO UNDERMINE COPENHAGEN OUTCOME

11:17 AM |

 

ISLAND STATES OUTRAGED AT ATTEMPTS TO UNDERMINE

COPENHAGEN OUTCOME

For immediate release

6 November, Barcelona - The 43-member Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) today expressed outrage at attempts this week to steamroll the worlds most vulnerable countries into accepting a watered down political agreement at the Copenhagen Climate Summit this December, rather than internationally legally binding outcomes.

Brushing aside suggestions at this weeks climate talks in Barcelona that it would be impractical or unrealistic to agree this year on legally binding instruments for post-2012, AOSIS demanded the immediate engagement of world leaders to break the deadlock in negotiations, and urged heads of state and government to come to Copenhagen ready to sign onto robust and legally binding commitments.

Ambassador Dessima Williams, Permanent Representative of Grenada to the United Nations and current AOSIS Chair, said Many states put forward their proposed treaty texts nearly six months ago. There are no practical obstacles whatsoever. All thats lacking now is the political will to finish the job. Weak political declarations are not the solution. Leaders must come to Copenhagen ready to sign on to new targets under the Kyoto Protocol, and a new broader treaty to bind all countries.

It is widely accepted that only legally binding commitments are sufficient to seal the deal on deep emission cuts and the finance commitments necessary to protect those already suffering the early impacts. For most states, legally binding outcomes are a prerequisite for a new multilateral deal on climate change.

AOSIS applauded UK Prime Minister Gordon Browns recent promise to attend the climate talks in Copenhagen, and today welcomed similar calls to world leaders from Brazilian President Lula da Silva and German Chancellor Angela Merkel late yesterday. Confirming her own Prime Ministers attendance in Copenhagen, Ambassador Williams said With just four weeks to go before Copenhagen, it is high time to set aside narrow national interests and focus on saving the planet from the fast-approaching climate catastrophe.

Small island nations, joined by the Group of Least Developed Countries and other vulnerable nations more than 80 in total continue to call for global warming to be limited to well below 1.5C above pre-industrial temperatures.

Large polluters have indicated a preference for a 2C limit, but recent science indicates that the higher limit would threaten the existence of a number of low-lying island states, and cause suffering, loss of life and irreparable damage to the worlds coral reefs.

Contact

Dr Albert Binger

Permanent Mission of Grenada to the United Nations

Email:yengar@hotmail.com


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pacific islands media association
pima.nius@gmail.com
aotearoa, new zealand
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pacific islands media association
pima.nius@gmail.com
aotearoa, new zealand
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The pima.nius googlegroup is a facility for discussion and distributing information. Content sent by this googlegroup are forwarded from various networks and media publications.

DISCLAIMER: These emails are unedited and discussions made through this googlegroup are unmoderated. Announcements made through this googlegroup do not constitute endorsement for the organisations, individuals or opinions featured. Please check the integrity of organisations and individuals before exchanging personal information with them.

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