China-US deal 'not the breakthrough needed' - but others welcome it
US/ CHINA CLIMATE DEAL– FRIENDS OF THE EARTH REACTION
Reacting to news that the United States and China have negotiated a deal to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, Friends of the Earth International Energy Campaigner Asad Rehman said:
"This isn’t the major breakthrough the planet needs.
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“If everyone follows the US approach then poorer countries will have to take on even greater efforts, without any support from rich nations to avoid the threat of catastrophic climate change.
“China’s intention to peak its emissions in the next fifteen years is certainly welcome news, but only in the context of a global deal based on science and fairness that delivers the urgent help developing nations need to cope with the severe threat global warming poses.”
ENDS
Notes
1. The US Copenhagen pledge was for a 30% cut in 2025 - see page 8 of this official UN compilation of A1 targets: http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2011/sb/eng/inf01r01.pdf
2. For more than 40 years we’ve seen that the wellbeing of people and planet go hand in hand – and it’s been the inspiration for our campaigns. Together with thousands of people like you we’ve secured safer food and water, defended wildlife and natural habitats, championed the move to clean energy and acted to keep our climate stable. Be a Friend of the Earth – see things differently. For further information visitwww.foe.co.uk.
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ActionAid reaction to the US-China announcement on cuts in carbon emissions
Adriano Campolina, chief executive, ActionAid International said:
"Let us be clear. This announcement from the US and China is more important for the signal it sends out than the impact it will have on climate change.
“China has been bolder than the US in taking action to address climate change. But we expect much higher cuts from US which is historically responsible for the most emissions in the atmosphere.
“Unfortunately, unless further action is taken, we are still heading for devastating climate change, with severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts around the world. And poorer countries will continue to be hit the hardest.
“But this announcement could put an end to the blame game for inaction and potentially create a snow ball effect for stronger commitments needed before the new climate agreement in Paris next year."
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WWF statement:
China, US send powerful signal to global climate talks
(GLAND, Switzerland, 12 November, 2014) Today’s announcement by the world’s two biggest carbon emitters – China and the US – of new emissions reduction targets sends a powerful political signal: there will be global action on climate change and a global UN climate agreement in 2015.
WWF’s Global Climate and Energy Initiative leader Samantha Smithsays all governments must now step up the pace and scale of their commitments to the UN climate negotiations. “They could start at the G20 meeting this weekend, by announcing an end to the US$88 billion that each year goes to find more fossil fuels, the very things that are driving climate change,” she says.
“We have a year before the global climate negotiations in Paris, and that year just got off to a good start. But these new targets from China and the US must be seen as opening bids in the negotiations, rather than final numbers. Both climate science and equity require more action," Smith says.
WWF-China CEO Sze Ping LO applauded China’s announcement to put a carbon peak and commit to exercise its right to develop within environmental limits. “Leaders from the major economies are responding to the people’s voices at the UN Climate Summit in New York and the latest climate science of the IPCC. This should encourage all other major emitters and UNFCCC parties to announce their emissions reductions targets and finance commitments early next year.”
“Game on,” says Lou Leonard, WWF-US vice president, climate change. “The planet’s leading emitters have put the rest of the world on notice: It’s time to act. But while this is an historic step for the US and China, both countries need to push for the strongest goals possible to give the world a fighting chance to stay below 2°C of warming. In the case of the US, its earlier pledge to reach 30 per cent reductions by 2025 should be a benchmark for any final global climate agreement.”
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IPPR comment:
Joss Garman, IPPR Associate Fellow, said:
“For decades a wall has separated political action from the scientific imperative on climate change. But with one handshake, the leaders of China and the US have breached that wall. When the world meets in Paris next year for a landmark UN climate summit, it may finally crumble.
“With new climate targets also being adopted by Europe, we now have the nations responsible for more than half of global carbon pollution pledged to serious climate action. This is a new era.
“Those people telling us that climate change is not real or is not a problem are being left stranded in the wake of historical developments. For years, they’ve said we should not act because China is doing nothing, but now China is investing more in clean energy than the whole of Europe and their emissions will peak by 2030 at the latest. This deal kicks their legs out from under them. They’ll soon be back with new disingenuous reasons for inaction, but they are increasingly submerged by facts on the ground.”
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