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Copenhagen, December 17, 2009 - Negotiations in Copenhagen remain in crisis with less than 48 hours left to reach a deal. A coalition of leading Canadian NGOs calls on the arriving world leaders to deliver a fair, ambitions and binding deal for the climate.
The eyes of the world are turned towards Copenhagen with high expectations for a deal that will prevent catastrophic climate change. An unprecedented level of mobilization across Canada and the world means that world leaders cannot arrive or leave empty handed. The time to act is long overdue and the world expects action.
“Secretary Clinton’s announcement supporting $100 billion on financing for developing countries on the table is an important step forward, and could be the start of the breakthrough we are seeking here in Copenhagen,” said Dale Marshall of the David Suzuki Foundation. “But to reach a strong deal, we need more good news from other leaders, especially from Prime Minister Stephen Harper.”
“Canada has been harshly criticized at these talks for positions widely considered to be inadequate and unfair, and for the lack of any plan to meet its emissions target,” said Dave Martin of Greenpeace Canada. “Prime Minister Harper has less than 48 hours left to strengthen Canada’s position and give real momentum to these talks. That starts with a stronger emissions target for Canada: the science shows we need an emission reduction target of 25-40% below the 1990 level by 2020.”
Mr. Harper must also make a meaningful commitment on climate finance, something Canada has failed to do so far in these negotiations.
A range of estimates show that the financial support for developing countries need to adapt to climate change and reduce their own emissions will run into the hundreds of billions of dollars. This fall, EU heads of government stated that €100 billion a year by 2020 is needed. Today, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a similar statement, calling for a fund of US $100 billion a year by 2020. There is strong support for a near-term financing package to meet urgent needs, and many countries are talking about a fund of about US $10 billion a year from 2010 to 2012.
Canada has yet to publicly recognize the scale of finance that developing countries need in the longer term; the government has also failed to make any new pledges of financial support here in Copenhagen.
Analysis shows that Canada's fair share is about 3-4% of the total needed. Of a short-term (US $10 billion) fund, that means about $320 to $420 million a year from Canada. In a longer-term fund, that means at least $3 to $4 billion a year in new public dollars from Canada.
"Financing is a make-or-break issue at these talks, and Stephen Harper can make sure Canada does its fair share in Copenhagen," said Clare Demerse from the Pembina Institute. "That means a contribution of new dollars, not a repackaging of old commitments or any move to take funds away from Canada's aid budget, which is needed to fight poverty. A fair deal in Copenhagen has to start with support for urgent short-term needs and also include a plan for a full-fledged solution after 2013."
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Copenhagen Contacts:
Hannah McKinnon
hmckinnon@climateactionnetwork.ca
Denmark: +45 2553 6081
Canadian Cell: 613.276.7791
Marie-Ève Roy
mroy@equiterre.org
Denmark: +45 416 33 795
Dale Marshall
The David Suzuki Foundation
+45 2936 3145
Dave Martin
Green Peace Canada
(45)5267 8631
Clare Demerse
Pembina Institue
clared@pembina.org
(45) 26980964
Canada Contacts:
Michael Bernard
media@climateactionnetwork.ca
(w) 613.241.4413 (c) 613.302.9933
Kristen Ostling
Media Relations
David Suzuki Foudation
kostling@davidsuzuki.org
Mobile: 778-987-9907
Julia Kilpatrick
Pembina Institute
Media Manager and Communications Lead
Tel: 613-216-1976 | Fax: 613-216-1975
juliak@pembina.org | www.pembina.org
Brian Blomme
Greenpeace Canada, Toronto
Communications Coordinator
416 930-9055 cell
416 597-8408, ext 3016
Éveline Trudel-Fugère
Canada: 514-605-200
etfugere@equiterre.org
For more information and press releases please visit:
www.climateactionnetwork.ca
