8th November 2006

World leaders along with some 5,000 delegates are meeting to discuss climate change in Nairobi, Kenya, must agree a new UN treaty to set binding targets for a cut in global greenhouse emissions (i). Greens argue global emissions must be cut by 80 to 90 per cent in the next few decades if we are to stave off the worst effects of climate change.

Cllr Martin Whiteside, Parliamentary spokesperson for Stroud District Green party, said: "Last week we saw the terms of the debate on climate change shifted by the Stern report, which put the lie to the notion that spending money tackling climate change was a poor economic gamble. Thousands have also protested around the world:20 to 30,000 in London which included several coaches from Gloucestershire (see photo of Stroud coach load above), 30,000 in Melbourne plus in many other countries including Taiwan, Sweden, and even the U.S."

Martin Whiteside said: "It is absolutely crucial for all of us here in Gloucestershire and for future generations that world leaders at the Nairobi talks adopt tough binding emission reduction targets and negotiate a truly global treaty. Such a treaty must be based on the principle of ‘Contraction and Convergence’, under which richer nations most responsible for greenhouse gas emissions – and better able economically to cut them – have the greatest responsibility to do so."

The signatories to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change are meeting in Kenya until November 17th to discuss a successor treaty to the Kyoto Protocol, which will expire in its current form in 2012. They will be the twelfth set of UN climate talks since the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, but global greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. The Kyoto Protocol has been widely criticised by Greens and environmental NGOs, for setting ‘weak’ targets, for excluding aviation and shipping (two of the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions) from its calculations – and for the failure of the US and Australia to sign up.

Martin Whiteside said: "This week’s conference in Nairobi gives nations the opportunity to negotiate a better, tougher, truly global climate change treaty for the first time. We need global leadership from Tony Blair, to help bring about an urgent treaty setting binding targets for emissions reduction in a way which doesn’t hit poorer countries’ sustainable development. Such a treaty must include emissions from aviation and apply globally – with the unequivocal support of the world’s largest greenhouse gas polluters, the US and China. As the Stern report reminded us just last week, failure on climate change will cost us dear – the eventual price will be measured in lives lost, not pounds spent, and Tony Blair has a duty to match his rhetoric on climate change with some real global action."

Notes:

(i) The two-week event opened with remarks from Kenyan Vice President Moody Awori: "We are all gathered this morning on behalf of mankind because we acknowledge that climate change is rapidly emerging as one of the most serious threats humanity will ever face." U.S. negotiator Harlan Watson didn't get the hint, telling those assembled that the U.S., despite shunning Kyoto, is controlling emissions better than some other countries and isn't likely to accept mandatory cuts.