Climate negotiators must zero in on key elements for a strong Copenhagen treaty

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Barcelona (Nov 6)—Some of the critical elements needed for a strong Copenhagen climate treaty were still missing as U.N. climate talks in Barcelona ended Friday.

Negotiators must keep cool heads and zero in on what they can credibly put on the table in December to ensure the emerging Copenhagen climate treaty is environmentally sound and legally binding, said non-profit group Environmental Defense Fund.

“We all want a global deal but if countries can’t put firm numbers on the table in December, then we have to keep up the momentum and keep working until they can,” said Jennifer Haverkamp, managing director of EDF’s international climate team.

“We need to keep cool heads so we can zero in on the essential elements that guarantee equity and environmental integrity in a treaty,” said Haverkamp. “We can’t downgrade, we must build a treaty that is stronger than what we already have.”

“The essential elements are basic. Firm emissions caps for developed countries, pathways to caps for all major emitters, tropical forest protection, adaptation finance for the most vulnerable, and strong governance and compliance so we all know we’re doing what we pledged to do to stop warming.”

“The most critical thing we need in Copenhagen is an ironclad commitment to reach a strong, binding agreement, and negotiators must create an accelerated timeline for arriving at such an agreement in early 2010. We mustn’t settle for anything that won’t solve the problem of climate change,” said Haverkamp.

Jennifer Haverkamp / 1-202-316-4914 / jhaverkamp@edf.org

Andrea Welsh/ 1-202-297-7723 / awelsh@edf.org