PRESS RELEASE

Brussels, June 6, 2014 – Young Friends of the Earth Europe, alongside other civil society groups, symbolically returned to the International climate talks today. The talks resumed in Bonn, Germany on Monday, the first session since a broad section of civil society walked out of the negotiations in Warsaw last year – in solidarity with those affected by climate change, and in protest over the corporate capture of the talks and the lack of ambition [1].

Friends of the Earth Europe is calling on European politicians to work towards an equitable, long-term, ambitious and people-centred solution to the climate crisis. The first week of the talks was marred by poor attendance from environmental ministers, who are expected to revise current ambitions and focus on contributions to the Kyoto agreement –as well as discuss new post-2020 climate commitments, expected to be agreed in Paris in 2015.

Susann Scherbarth, climate justice and energy campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe said: “Civil society walked out of the climate talks in Warsaw in frustration at the toxic influence of dirty energy corporations and the dangerous positions of many national governments. Now we’re back, stronger, calling for the just, people-centred solutions the world needs to tackle catastrophic climate change.”

The European Union’s current position at the talks is dangerously inadequate and unfair, according to the organisation, and will force those developing countries least responsible for climate change to undertake the majority of the effort and cost to tackle it. It also risks dangerously high levels of global warming [2].

Susann Scherbarth continued: “In the climate change game, the European Union is not even on the bench, it’s amongst the spectators. If the EU is serious about defeating catastrophic climate change, then it needs to step up and do its fair share on the pitch. This means more than 20% emissions reductions before 2020, binding climate and energy targets for 2030, at least 60% cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, and ambitious energy efficiency and renewables targets.”

The positions of many industrialised governments are increasingly driven by the narrow economic and financial interests of multinational corporations, according to the organisation. They neglect responsibility for the prevention of climate change, and the protection of those that are losing so much as a result, including younger generations.

Jamie Gorman, campaigner for Young Friends of the Earth Europe said: “Communities are suffering irreversible losses due to climate breakdown, now. Governments must stop pandering to multinationals, and put new money on the table to compensate developing countries, and help them adapt to the impacts of climate change. We need equity and global justice now, for the sake of both current and future generations and especially the billions of young people living in the Global South today.”

Friends of the Earth Europe is calling on European politicians to push for fast and fair emission cuts in line with science and equity, and a renewable energy-powered future that puts the interests of people at its centre. It is calling for binding EU climate and energy targets for 2030, at least 60% cuts in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and ambitious energy efficiency and renewables targets. This needs be alongside more ambitious pre-2020 action and financial contribution to those who needs it urgently in the developing world.

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Spokespeople from Friends of the Earth Europe and Young Friends of the Earth Europe are available for comment throughout the talks. Please contact:

Susann Scherbarth, climate justice and energy campaigner, Friends of the Earth Europe, (DE, EN)

Mob: +32 (0) 486 341 837, email: susann.scherbarth@foeeurope.org

Jamie Gorman, climate justice and energy campaigner, Young Friends of the Earth Europe

Mob: +353 860 853 067, email: jamiecgorman@gmail.com

Sam Fleet, communications officer, Friends of the Earth Europe, (EN)

Tel: +32 (0) 2893 1012, email: samuel.fleet@foeeurope.org

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NOTES:

[1] The ‘people’s declaration’ will be presented to the presidencies of the next two COPs in Lima and Paris as part of the walk-in. The declaration can be found here: http://volveremos.org/

Friends of the Earth Europe, Polluters talk, we walk, November 2013: http://www.foeeurope.org/polluters-talk-we-walk-211113

[2] Equity and Ambition Group briefing: Broken Promises, June 2014: http://www.foeeurope.org/sites/default/files/press_releases/eag_brokenpromises_june2014.pdf

Friends of the Earth Europe, EU climate plans only please polluters, March 2014: http://www.foeeurope.org/EU-climate-plans-only-please-polluters-210314

Friends of the Earth Europe, Community Power – the benefits of an energy revolution, December 2013: http://www.foeeurope.org/community-Power-benefits-briefing-011213

 

 

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