Climate change & environment
Copenhagen
Climate change remains one of the most serious and urgent social and economic challenges we face, both in the UK and globally. The consequences of climatic instability are already reckoned to be causing 300,000 premature deaths and $125 billion worth of damage around the world every year. And the prospect of runaway climate change - if we don't meet the necessary targets for reducing emissions - would be horrific.
The UN Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen (COP15) began on Monday, the 7th December. This is a big opportunity for the UK to take the lead, demanding science-based targets, and pointing out all the social and economic benefits which would come from emissions-reduction policies - if only Gordon Brown has the political will.
Below are some resources about the Summit (what the Green Party is saying; comment pieces from Green Party members), and what we need the summit to achieve.
We can build a more stable economy, cut our business costs, give everyone warmer homes, drastically improve public transport, and in the process create over a million jobs just from the short-term policies we need to slash UK emissions.
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Green Party report - "Copenhagen Climate Conference: What different countries want" - A report on the parties negotiating in the Copenhagen talks. This report summarises the positions of the EU, US, China, India and other countries, regarding emissions reductions targets and related issues to be discussed at Copenhagen.
- Green Party response to the Pre-Budget Report
- Caroline Lucas, on BBC's The Andrew Marr Show, 29th November, talking about Copenhagen
- Full transcript of Caroline on The Andrew Marr Show, 29th November
- Tony Juniper, in the Guardian, "Copenhagen - a non-negotiable deadline
We must take urgent action now to move to a low or zero carbon economy, making a bigger and more significant effort than our Government or the EU presently contemplate. The Labour government now proposes a target of reducing emissions by 80% by 2050. The EU has agreed 20% by 2030, or 30% if other industrialized countries agree to also make reductions. Neither target is adequate. The latest scientific predictions suggest that an industrialized country, such as the UK, needs to reduce emissions by 90% by 2030, or approximately 10% per year from now on.
The Green Party is the only party with policies that approach a 10% annual reduction.
We will:
• Use the Green New Deal investment to kick-start a Green industrial revolution so that low and zero-carbon sectors of the economy are the new platform for prosperity.
• Transform the energy production landscape by supporting renewable sources, including wind and micro-solar generation.
• Reduce emissions from aviation by ending the £10 billion subsidy of the aviation industry.
• Reduce waste by making waste reduction, re-use and recycling easier.
• Improve public transport and rail to cut emissions from vehicles.
• Retrofit homes, schools and hospitals with energy efficiency measures.
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Wednesday 16 Dec
- NGOs locked out of COP15 venue
Key NGOs including Friends of the Earth International were denied entry this morning to the Bella Centre in Copenhagen, where the negotiations are taking place.
This came as conference organisers began to step up security around the venue, ahead of the arrival of heads of state. Concerns have also been raised over heavy-handed tactics used by police in dealing with individual demonstrators, and the number of arrests made.
Speaking from Copenhagen, European Green Party Spokesperson Monica Frassoni condemned the decision to deny the NGOs entry:
" It is simply unacceptable that just as the negotiations are about to enter their crucial last few days, the very organisations which have done so much to raise awareness of the urgent need for a strong, legally binding and just climate change agreement are being denied access to the COP15 venue.
"We also know that many thousands of people from other organisations, including Green Party representatives and delegates of the Green European Institute, have been queuing for many hours on successive days without gaining entry. This can only add to suspicions that the UN is trying to close down criticism of the talks and world leaders, most of whom will participate as of tomorrow. This is not only very bad news for all those who fight for climate justice but can only increase tensions and the likelihood of disturbances outside and inside the venue."
-Monday 14 December
Caroline Lucas condemns policing tactics at Copenhagen summit
Copenhagen pledges still not good enough, says Caroline Lucas
Sunday 13 December
- Global Greens call for honest, scientifically sound climate agreement
As the Copenhagen COP enters its second week, the Global Greens today called for an honest climate agreement, based on science rather than tricky accounting.
They are concerned that rich nations are building loopholes into the agreement to give the appearance of strong targets without actually having to cut emissions.
Land-use and forestry in particular are being used as get-out clauses, according to the Global Greens Coordination, which includes representatives from Asia Pacific, African, American and European Green parties.
The Global Greens therefore call on the world's leaders to agree on in the next five crucial days:
1. Targets to limit global warming to 2 degrees C or less.
2. Clear 2020 targets for developed countries of at least a 40% reduction in emissions below 1990 levels, with an interim assessment point in 2014.
3. Commitment of substantial new funding by developed countries for mitigation and adaptation by developing countries, including reducing deforestation and degradation. This is in part recognition of the historic responsibility of developed countries for past emissions.
4. Exclusion of carbon capture and storage from the Clean Development Mechanism, and rejection of nuclear power altogether.
5. Strong pro-active measures to protect biodiversity, water and nature, whilst respecting the rights of local communities.
The COP15 should commit to finalizing a legally binding agreement in 2010 covering these and other issues, building on the Kyoto Protocol.
Friday 11th December
- December EU summit fails to reclaim lead role for EU in climate policy
The December summit of EU leaders failed to make much progress on the EU's climate pledges, despite the summit in Copenhagen being underway.
Commenting on the conclusions of the EU summit of heads of state and government, Greens/EFA President Rebecca Harms said:
"EU leaders have again missed an opportunity to reclaim Europe's leading role in the UN climate negotiations.
"The summit shamefully failed to deliver the necessary step up in the EU's emissions reduction target from 20% to 30%. For a year, the EU has dangled the possibility of a 30% commitment on condition of other countries improving their pledges, yet it is still stubbornly keeping its foot on the brakes despite the fact that other countries now have pledges that are more ambitious than its own.
"The Council also failed to clarify its position on the crucial make-or-break issue of long-term financing for developing countries. This makes a mockery of the EU's continued claims of climate leadership and is in contradiction with the EU's goal of limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius."
Wednesday 9th December
- Green Party response to the Pre-Budget Report
Mon 7th December
Sat 5th December
Caroline Lucas speaks at the Wave demo and march in London:
