It's time to heed climate warnings, says development group
Christian Aid’s Senior Climate Change Advisor, Mohamed Adow, said the report showed the need for swift action.
‘This report confirmed what is already well known to the poorest and most vulnerable communities already bearing the brunt of climate change – that swift and serious action is needed and needed now,’ he said.
‘The good news is this report shows there is still time to avoid catastrophic climate changebut only if we stop stalling.
‘Fossil fuel is the dirty, archaic, energy of the past which has caused the climate crisis. But we have the cards in our hand to change the game in our favour. By replacing filthy fossil fuels with clean, renewable energy we can put the world on a safe and prosperous path.
‘There is no option but to face the scientific reality. Governments must come up with effective measures to rapidly phase out the activities which are changing our climate.
‘The world’s poorest nations are in need of economic development. But they need to be helped to leapfrog dirty energy and develop in a way which won’t entrench their poverty by making climate change worse. With technological and financial help they can harness their natural, clean, energy resources and improve the lives of millions.
‘Renewable energy is backed by the public; wind power has the support of two thirds (66%) of Britons and the CBI has called on action to tackle climate change. The Government should be doing all it can to put the UK at the forefront of this energy revolution not blowing hot and cold on the issue.
‘The Prime Minister has shown real leadership on aid, but the prospects for development in the poorest countries will wither and die without resolute action on climate.
‘After the EU’s unacceptable delay in agreeing its climate commitments last March, the Prime Minister must convince his EU counterparts to get things back on track and bring an ambitious offer to the UN Secretary General’s climate summit in New York in September.’
Ends
To read Christian Aid’s report Low Carbon Africa on how countries there can bypass dirty energy visit http://www.christianaid.org.uk/low-carbon-africa.
The poll showing public support for wind energy was conducted by Ipsos Mori. Details can be found here
Notes
1. Christian Aid works in some of the world's poorest communities in around 50 countries at any one time. We act where there is great need, regardless of religion, helping people to live a full life, free from poverty. We provide urgent, practical and effective assistance in tackling theroot causes of poverty as well as its effects.
2. Christian Aid’s core belief is that the world can and must be changed so that poverty is ended: this is what we stand for. Everything we do is about ending poverty and injustice: swiftly, effectively, sustainably. Our strategy document Partnership for Change (http://www.christianaid.org.uk/images/partnership-for-change-summary.pdf) explains how we set about this task.
3. Christian Aid is a member of the ACT Alliance, a global coalition of more than 130 churches and church-related organisations that work together in humanitarian assistance, advocacy and development. Further details at http://actalliance.org
4. Follow Christian Aid's newswire on Twitter: http://twitter.com/caid_newswire
5. For more information about the work of Christian Aid visit http://www.christianaid.org.uk
