BREAKING: U.S. caught drafting secret proposal that could torpedo climate negotiations

For Immediate Release

Contact:

Nick Berning (in Denmark), +45 30 48 31 73

Kelly Trout (in the United States), +1 202 222 0722 

COPENHAGEN — The Guardian is reporting that the U.S., Denmark, and a cabal of wealthy nations that are among the world’s biggest polluters have produced a secret alternative to the draft text currently under negotiation at the UN climate summit in Copenhagen.

Friends of the Earth U.S. President Erich Pica had the following response:

“The Obama administration’s role in what appears to be a secret plot to strong-arm through an agreement forcing poor countries to bear much of the cost of reducing emissions is despicable. President Obama cannot lead the world while wheeling and dealing from the back-room.  Theseare supposed to be negotiations about how to solve a problem, not about how to appease the United States government.  

“The ‘Danish text’ is grossly unfair and is a non-starter. The United States, which has already filled the atmosphere with far more than its fair share of greenhouse gas emissions, must reject this text and start listening to the proposals of developing countries.”

More information, including a link to the full Danish text, can be found here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/dec/08/copenhagen-climate-summit-disarray-danish-text

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Friends of the Earth U.S. and our international network of grassroots groups in 77 countries fight to create a more healthy, just world. Our current campaigns focus on clean energy and solutions to global warming, protecting people from toxic and new, potentially harmful technologies, and promoting smarter, low-pollution transportation alternatives.