Final COP 21 text a disaster for the world’s most vulnerable and future generations | Global Justice Now #cop21paris #nicop21 #olsx @occupynn

Final COP 21 text a disaster for the world’s most vulnerable and future generations | Global Justice Now

Final COP 21 text a disaster for the world’s most vulnerable and future generations

Saturday, 12 December, 2015

Environment and development groups have condemned the final text released on what is supposed to be the final day of negotiations at the UN climate talks in Paris.

Nick Dearden, the director of Global Justice Now said:

“It’s outrageous that the deal that’s on the table is being spun as a success when it undermines the rights of the world’s most vulnerable communities and has almost nothing binding to ensure a safe and liveable climate for future generations. In fact the deal as it stands in the context of INDCs that have been submitted sets us firmly on the path to a devastating three degrees of global warming.

“Years ago it was the brinksmanship of the USA that lead to the Kyoto Protocol becoming a toothless and ineffective agreement, which they didn’t even ratify. History has repeated itself in Paris, as the USA, with the support of the EU and the other rich nations, have ensured that the most important parts of the treaty are either stripped out of the text entirely, or watered down to the point of meaninglessness. Critical issues such as binding emissions reductions, legal responsibilities for loss and damage, and the recognition of human rights are all conspicuously absent from the main body of the text.

People are taking to the streets of Paris today with a mixture of anger and determination. Anger that our elected leaders have yet again put short-term corporate interests ahead of the most urgent crisis that humanity is facing. And determination that people and communities will continue to take the lead ahead of politicians on climate action, by taking on the fossil fuel industry, by fighting climate-trashing free trade deals and pushing for a just transition to a low-carbon economy.”

Oscar Reyes, climate policy analyst, Institute for Policy Studies said:

 “While rich countries have been talking up their 'ambition', the reality is that big polluters like the United States are promising climate pollution cuts that amount to only a fifth of what we should be doing.“Rich countries have pushed a bad deal that could help them avoid their responsibility to pay for the effects of climate change. The Paris agreement is shaping up to shift ever more of the responsibility for addressing climate change onto some of the world’s poorest people, who did the least to cause climate change in the first place.”