Copenhagen Flop

SCIAF has warned that the weak Copenhagen climate deal could spell disaster for the world’s poorest people.

A team of SCIAF staff travelled to the Danish capital in December for the UN climate change summit. We took part in a massive climate change march through the streets of Copenhagen, attended a candle lit vigil lead by Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu from South Africa and put pressure on politicians to come up with a fair and binding deal.

Leaders from over 100 countries around the world gathered in the city to decide on the best way to tackle the problem of climate change but they could not agree on a clear action plan.

Many poor countries, who are already suffering from the effects of global warming despite doing least to cause it, wanted rich countries to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% (on 1990 levels) by 2020.

They also called for wealthy nations to provide billions of pounds in funding to help poorer countries develop green technologies and protect themselves from the worst impacts of climate change.

But although Scotland is committed to emissions cuts of 42%, other rich countries refused to follow our example.

Speaking from Copenhagen, SCIAF Policy Analyst, Rowan Popplewell said:

“Most wealthy nations still do not accept their historical responsibility for global warming and are unwilling to address the problem with enough urgency. Across Africa, Asia and Latin America, people are already struggling to cope with the effects of climate change and we only have a short window of opportunity in which to prevent even worse impacts in the future.

World leaders must set a firm deadline for agreeing a comprehensive and binding deal in the coming months. They may be lagging behind, but the level of commitment demonstrated by ordinary people here in Scotland, and around the world has shown that the general public want a strong climate change agreement.”

Despite disappointment in Copenhagen, SCIAF is still fighting for a safe future for all and we need your help. In 2010, we will continue to campaign for a fair and binding climate change deal which protects the world’s poorest people, so watch this space!