I came away from the EU parliament with a bit more confidence that the EU would work towards agreeing a deal that slashes carbon emissions and helps poor countries adapt to the effects of our pollution.
However, there was a nagging BUT. Warm words in meeting rooms aren’t enough. It’s what happens (or doesn’t happen) when Ministers and leaders from the 27 member states meet that matters.
At the moment that still hangs in the balance, as so much around climate change negotiations seems to. A strong European plan is central to the entire international negotiating process. But so far Europe’s leaders are failing to deliver. And that’s where you come in.
This week, crucial climate talks are taking place. This could be Europe’s last chance to put poor people at the heart of plans to tackle global warming, before Copenhagen. They must commit to providing an additional 35bn a year by 2020. Sounds a lot but that is a mere 0.2 per cent of Europe’s combined annual income.
And I know that this is a tough time. But there’s lots of ways to raise this money without squeezing extra cash from taxpayers.
So, sign up here before 30 October, and help us deliver thousands of emails and faxes from dozens of countries. Together we can push Europe’s leaders in the right direction.
Copenhagen is just around the corner. We need to use every opportunity to ram home the message that it’s time to act to get a fair and safe climate deal. Words aren’t enough, we need action.
Everything you need to know about Copenhagen: Copenhagen 101.
Tell your leader to ‘Put poor people at the heart of climate talks’.
