Lymec-PM: Copenhagen Climate Conference: a shameful sinkage (21. Dezember 2009)
The European Liberal Youth (LYMEC) reacts with great disappointment to the results of the UN climate summit in Copenhagen. Delegates refused to endorse formally and only "took note" of a declaration negotiated at the last minute between the US, China, India, South Africa, Brazil and a number of EU Member States, but leaving outside 165 countries. The declaration contains language about holding the rise in global temperatures down to 2°C, and a promise of €20 billion over the next three years and €70 billion a year from 2020 in climate aid from rich to poor countries.
Aloys Rigaut, President of LYMEC, commented on Friday: "Let's not hide behind the reality: this conference is a failure, and the political responsibilities for this will have to be sought, including in Europe", before adding: "COP15 was portrayed as the conference of the last chance and the whole world was anxiously waiting for its outcome. What came out of it is a shame: no binding agreement, only a declaration and some promises; a text envisioning another year of negotiations, leaving a myriad of details still unclear, and not even formally endorsed by all nations. This is a disaster. Maybe one should think one day about chaging the decision-making method: getting about 200 nations to agree on a binding text is mission impossible; even with only 27 Member States the EU has difficulty to reach consensus".
Anne Solsvik, President of the Young Liberals of Norway (NUV): "This outcome sadly reflects quite precisely the predictions made by a common LYMEC/NUV simulation of the different interests of the negotiating nations and country blocks on occasion of our preparatory summer camp meeting in Arendal (Norway). While the Europeans where committed to fighting climate change in earnest, the United States’ and China's negotiating positions proved to be major obstacles. This is even more alarming, as the EU is indeed the third largest producer of greenhouse gases with 11.8% of global emissions, but the United States with 15,5% and China with a whopping 20,7% are leading the scoreboard."
Alexander Plahr, LYMEC Vice President added: "One thing we have to be very careful about is the intention to €70 billion annually by 2020 to developing nations, to help them fight climate change. This is an awful high amount of money and the EU should better make sure that it is used in a transparent way, and that it is spent for what it is intended for instead of ending up in someone's private pocket, or simply being used by emerging countries such as China or Brazil to compete with us instead of increasing energy efficiency".
Note: LYMEC and NUV prepared an open letter during their climate change preparatory meeting, summarizing their demands, which can be viewed here.
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