Alarming rumors in Cancun of secret Mexican text that could end Kyoto Protocol, lead to five degrees [C] of warming
For Immediate Release
December 3, 2010
Contact:
Alex Rafalowicz, [email protected], +52 998 122 6068
Marlijn Dingshoff, [email protected], +52 998 108 03 78
ALARMING RUMORS IN CANCUN OF SECRET MEXICAN TEXT THAT COULD END KYOTO PROTOCOL, LEAD TO 5°C OF WARMING
— Press conference today 1.30 p.m., Luna, Azteca building, Moon Palace —
CANCUN, MEXICO, 3 December 2010 — Rumors of a secret Mexican text that would essentially replace the Kyoto Protocol with the Copenhagen Accord, leading to a dangerous and unacceptable climate change of up to 5°C (9°F) have begun circulating here.
Ministerial level officials are now planning to arrive well in advance of the High-Level Segment, which was scheduled to start next week. Some observers expect the Mexican presidency to present the secret text to Ministers as early as Saturday evening.
Civil society advocates responded to the rumors by demanding that delegates reject any attempts to introduce such a text into the conference. Replacing the aggregate global emission targets that are supposed to be negotiated under the Kyoto Protocol with the non-binding pledges of the Accord could, according to a UN analysis released November 23, set the planet on a course for devastating changes by the end of the century — as much as 5°C (9°F) of warming.
“There is a clear way that UN negotiations work and succeed. We saw it earlier this year in biodiversity negotiations. We saw it when the Climate Convention and Kyoto were ratified. But we did not see it in Copenhagen and we are not seeing it here. Without a fair process we will never see a fair outcome. We must not let Cancun repeat Copenhagen.” Chee Yoke Ling of the Third World Network said.
“The only way to avoid wholly unacceptable climate change impacts is to set aggregate, science-based emission reduction targets, and then to allocate them between countries in a just way. That was agreed to under the Kyoto Protocol negotiations. Replacing the Kyoto Protocol with a pledge-based system along the lines of the Copenhagen Accord would be devastating to the climate and the world’s people. It would be unjust and unacceptable.” Nnimmo Bassey, chair of Friends of the Earth International said.
“Even a three degree world would condemn millions of the world’s poorest people to a devastating future of hunger, weather disasters and increased conflict. Entrenching the Copenhagen Accord exposes us to those risks, and even much worse. As much as 5 degrees of warming could occur according to
research just released by UNEP. I wouldn’t think that the Mexican government would want to be responsible for establishing the system that locks in dangerous climate change rather than stops it.” Sivan Kartha, senior scientist at the Stockholm Environment Institute said.
* The developments will be further discussed in a press conference hosted by Friends of the Earth International, today, 1.30 pm in Luna, Aztec building, Moon Palace *
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