PRESS RELEASE
13 NOVEMBER 2017
(Bonn, Germany) 13 November, 2017 – As social movements, environmental and development NGOs, trade unions, faith and other civil society groups, we have come together to assess the climate commitments (NDCs) that have been put on the table through the UN climate negotiations, and offer solutions for how countries can fairly increase their pledges through the 2018 “Talanoa Dialogue.”
Speaking at a press briefing in Bonn on November 13, 2017, members of our alliance made the following statements:
Over 120 organizations from across the world have already endorsed the report. Read the full report online.
QUOTES
“We are demanding that ALL governments fulfill their duty and obligation to their citizens and all peoples of the world to pledge and carry out at least their fair share of climate actions. The NDCs clearly indicate that all countries must do much more. One of the immediate steps is to stop the expansion of fossil fuel industries. Further, rich countries must deliver climate finance so that building of renewable and democratic energy systems can be fast tracked in southern countries.” Lidy Nacpil, Coordinator, Asian Peoples Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD)
“Realising the 1.5°C goal requires massive changes in our production and consumption systems, and therefore well designed Just Transition strategies to help workers and communities adapt to a new system. Trade unions believe equity (an effort in accordance with capacity and responsibility) is an important factor for setting emission reduction pathways, as it gives a chance for the poorest in our planet to see their need for prosperity satisfied, while at the same time securing social justice for all those who need to be accompanied in change.” Anabella Rosemberg, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)
“We’re nowhere near on track for the Paris Agreement goal of keeping global temperature rise under 1.5 degrees. To have any hope of reaching that goal, governments must commit to vastly greater levels of climate action. For rich countries – none of which have pledged to take their fair share of action – that has to include providing climate finance to support poorer countries. Without finance, there is no chance of a global climate regime based on equity. Without equity, there is no chance of getting all countries to take the action the world so badly needs.” Brandon Wu, Director of Policy and Campaigns, ActionAid USA
“It was easy, before Paris, to say that “equity” was too dangerous, that first we had to put a truly global regime into place. After Paris, this logic no longer applies. We’re not at all on track for 2°C, let alone 1.5°C. And we’re not going get on track without taking equity seriously. It’s long been said that “equity is the pathway to ambition.” It’s time to ask what – exactly what – we have to do to find that pathway.” Tom Athanasiou, Executive Director, EcoEquity, USA
“For many vulnerable countries the climate threat is already reaching danger levels. We need an unprecedented effort to cut emissions. Every country must play its part in the coming decade. Countries will need to be confident that all parties are taking their fair share of that effort, and less developed countries will need support from their rich counterparts to become thriving zero carbon economies.” Mohamed Adow, International Climate Change Lead, Christian Aid
“While more ambition and mitigation is urgently required than currently pledged by all countries the key element is to take seriously the means of implementation, finance and support that should take cognizance of equity principles. We urge the rich countries to move from talkshows to take concrete actions and do more to reduce the daily manifestation of climate change impacts on vulnerable groups. The time to act was decades ago.” Godwin Uyi Ojo, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria
“All people on Earth are equal and should have equal access to its bounties. Thus equity formula need to be the basis of global decisions. Current climate negotiations are creating an unequal World with benefits to Rich and Powerful sidelining the survival needs of poor. Equity Report shows the mirror to decision makers that developed countries have succeeded in shifting its burden on poor developing countries. This outcome need to be reversed and Talanoa dialogue need to STEP UP ambition from Rich Developed Countries as an equity based outcome in 2018.” Sanjay Vashist, Director, Climate Action Network South Asia
“If the world is to avoid catastrophic climate change there can be no free riders. All countries need to do more, and some countries need to do much more. Unless all face up to their fair share of the global effort, we are heading for a three degree world caused mostly by the rich suffered mostly by the poor.” Tracy Carty, Climate Change Senior Policy Adviser, Oxfam
“This year the climate talks are taking place within a short distance of Europe’s biggest coal mine – which is set for further expansion. Rich countries must end dirty energy now and provide the finance and technology for developing countries to achieve sustainable, people-centred renewable energy for all. Without fairness in who takes responsibility for drastic emissions cuts and finance action on the ground will not happen at the rate needed – leading to a 3 degree or more world where the poorest and most vulnerable will suffer the most, as they do now.” Sara Shaw, Climate Justice & Energy International Programme Co-coordinator, Friends of the Earth International
“In agreement with what Pope Francis defines as the “ecological debt”, rich countries must deliver their fair share of public climate finance to limit warming to 1.5°C. This is the least they can do for the most affected by climate change in order to embark on a low-carbon development pathway. For CIDSE, this effort should be coupled with a systemic societal transformation, embracing sustainable ways of living and promoting gender equality.” Giulia Bondi, Climate Justice and Energy Officer, CIDSE
“Keeping global warming within 1.5°C is essential for global equity, as climate change damage will increasingly harm the poor and vulnerable if that threshold is surpassed. Governments must step up efforts in a fair and equitable manner to accelerate emission cuts while increasing support for vulnerable communities to build their resilience to climate change impacts.” Sven Harmeling, Global Policy Lead Climate Change and Resilience, CARE International
“After more than twenty years of negotiations, all governments agreed in Paris to reduce emissions to avoid the most dangerous levels of climate change while recognizing the need to eradicate poverty, promote and respect human rights, and guarantee food security and a just transition. These obligations and commitments can only be met if the countries that have emitted most greenhouse gases reduce emissions urgently in line with their responsibility.” Sébastien Duyck, Senior Attorney, Center for International Environmental Law
“Just 1°C of warming has resulted in climate induced killer floods, droughts and super storms becoming the new reality. With the world hurtling towards the cliff edge of catastrophic climate change, those most responsible for causing the crisis need to take their foot of the gas, do their fair share of effort and put hard cash on the table to deal with the damage they have already caused. But simply talking about ambition without talking about equity is hot air. But it’s hot air that kills. Failing to meet the 1.5°C guardrail makes them complicit and culpable in sacrificing the lives and livelihoods of millions of the poorest in the world.” Asad Rehman, War on Want
“There is no point in pretending that current climate change efforts are fair and equitable. The countries that have benefited most historically from consumption of fossil fuels and GHG emissions, and who as a result have the greatest financial and technological resources to combat it, have the greatest responsibility to act. Acknowledging this is an essential step to generating the political will and mobilization of resources necessary to close the gap between current efforts and getting on track to limiting warming to 1.5 degrees.” Mark Lutes,Senior Global Climate Policy Advisor, WWF-Brazil
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