Barcelona, November 2, 2009: – One thousand alarm clocks rang at 8.30 this morning to welcome delegates to the last international climate meeting before the major summit begins in Copenhagen in December.
The TckTckTck campaign – an unprecedented global alliance which represents more than 200 development, humanitarian and environment organizations - brought together hundreds of Barcelona residents and conference observers to provide a “wake up” call to the government negotiators attending the meeting.
TckTckTck Campaign Director Ben Margolis said this week’s meeting featuring thousands of representatives of the world’s governments in Barcelona is the last chance for the critical elements of an international agreement to fight climate change to be thrashed out before Copenhagen. The progress to date has been beset by unacceptable delays.
“We stand here today united to tell our leaders that time is running out to agree a fair, ambitious and binding climate deal,” Mr Margolis said.
Delay kills – just last week, the fourth typhoon to hit the Philippines in recent months killed 14 people, adding to the 300,000 people that die every year as a result of climate change impacts.
“Real money must be put on the table now by rich nations to ensure the deal is fair to the poorest people in the world who have done the least to cause the current climate crisis and suffer most from it,” he said.
“Governments must commit to reducing emissions by 40 per cent from 1990 levels – making the deal ambitious enough to prevent catastrophic climate change.”
The deal must also be legally binding with clear consequences for those who do not comply.
“This meeting must set the tone for the Copenhagen talks – world leaders must get serious about locking in the deal the world expects them to make – one that preserves the planet for future generations, not leaves us all with a dangerous and uncertain road ahead.”
For more information, photos or for an interview with Ben Margolis, call:
Links:
[1] http://tcktcktck.org/files/stories/4068166802_6ebb7b0be5_0.jpg
[2] http://elrealizador.fotki.com/tcktcktck/