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Copenhagen: Monday, December 7, 2009: A staggering 10 million people – and growing – have united in a call for a fair, ambitious and binding climate treaty to be signed by world leaders at the Copenhagen climate negotiations which open today.
The expectations of more than 10 million people who have already signed TckTckTck’s petition were handed over to key figures at the climate talks: UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer, Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and COP 15 President and Danish Climate Minster Connie Hedegaard.
TckTckTck chair and Greenpeace International Executive Director Kumi Naidoo said the size of the petition
demonstrated the huge groundswell of support for world leaders to deal with climate change.
“The world has spoken,” Mr Naidoo said. “Leaders must and can deliver a deal that will save the climate. One that is fair to the poorest people and countries that did not cause this problem but that will suffer the most from it, ambitious enough to leave a safe planet for us all and one that is legally binding, that can be monitored and real targets that can be enforced.”
Mr de Boer, Mr Rasmussen and Ms Hedegaard accepted a small construction of Danish LEGO blocks as a reminder that they must capitalize on the positive developments of recent weeks and foster the political will required at the talks to get the deal done over the next two weeks.
“The building blocks for a successful deal in Copenhagen are in place, all that is missing is the political will. Obama, Merkel, Sarkozy and other industrialized country leaders must show the billions of people whose lives are at stake, that they will fulfill their promises and take the action needed to stop the climate crisis,” Mr Naidoo said.
At the handover, 15 young people from all over the world held up large scale “building blocks” which spelled out “10 million people expect a fair, ambitious and binding deal” to show leaders that all the elements required for an effective climate treaty are present.
Leah Wickham, 24 from Fiji, said at the handover that it was at this summit that world leaders would decide what kind of future young people and the coming generations would have.
“I am relying on the decision makers to sign a deal that will mean that my children inherit a safe world,” Ms Wickham said. “All the hopes and dreams of my generation rest on Copenhagen.”
Following on from this show of public support for climate action, on December 12 millions of people will gather under the banner of “The World Wants A Real Deal” in what is expected to be the biggest global day of action on climate change in history.
The day is supported by all 226 TckTckTck partner organizations. In Copenhagen, the day will culminate with an address by Archbishop Desmond Tutu at a candlelight vigil at the UN conference.
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Enquiries: Ria Voorhaar: +45 526 895 80 or +49 1609 738 6534,
Email: ria.voorhaar@tcktcktck.org
- What is a Fair, Ambitious and Binding Deal:
- A real deal will be FAIR-- with the developed countries who caused this crisis providing at least $150 billion a year of financial
support to help developing countries adapt to the impacts of climate change and develop in a sustainable way - A real deal will be AMBITIOUS-- and do what science says is necessary: global emissions must peak by 2017 and CO2
- A real deal must be legally BINDING-- an international treaty that can be verified and enforced, not just a mere political statement.
concentrations reduced to 350ppm. Developed countries must cut their emissions at least 40% by 2020
- A real deal will be FAIR-- with the developed countries who caused this crisis providing at least $150 billion a year of financial
- Visit www.tcktcktck.org/realdeal for information.