Extreme Veteran
Posts: 319
| Thought press coverage of Copenhagen was poor but Cancun has been virtually nill. As the world heats up its leaders don't seem to be 'getting it'. See this press release from Friends of the Earth Scotland
MEXICO CONVENES MINISTERS IN PRIVATE TO DISCUSS SECRET TEXT AT UN CLIMATE
TALKS
Reports of a secret Mexican text that would replace the Kyoto Protocol with
an agreement based upon the Copenhagen Accord have emerged from inside the
UN climate negotiations today (3 December).
The draft text would lock the world into to a rise in global temperatures of
up to five degrees C and effectively kill off the Kyoto protocol.
Duncan McLaren, Chief Executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said:
"For all its failings, the Kyoto Protocol is the only instrument that offers
even a sniff of justice for the poor nations most threatened by climate
change.
"Replacing it with a deal based on the weak and illegitimate Copenhagen
Accord would deal a devastating blow to hopes for climate justice in Cancun."
Friends of the Earth Scotland understands that the Mexican Government will
table a draft text at a meeting of Ministers from selected countries on
Saturday. It is not known which countries have been selected, only that
Bolivia is not one of them.
Friends of the Earth International's Climate Campaigner Asad Rehman said:
"A new and weak Mexican text could hit Cancun like a category five hurricane
leaving only the rubble of a strong and fair international agreement to
tackle climate change in its wake.
"The Mexicans should have learnt from the Danish hosts in Copenhagen that
secret backroom deals and shady gatherings of ministers will not create a
constructive atmosphere for progress just deep feelings of ill-will.
"The Mexican government would make better use of their time ensuring a fair
and open process of negotiation moving forward that ensures rich countries
commit to a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol and cut their
domestic emissions by at least 40% by 2020."
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Can Cancun?