NEWSROOM

Copenhagen Accord Weak, Lacks Substance

More Serious Global Climate Shifts Expected

The UN climate talks in Copenhagen were inches away from total failure and ended with an outcome far too weak to tackle dangerous climate change, says WWF.

“Copenhagen was at the brink of failure due to poor leadership combined with an unconvincing level of ambition,” says WWF Global Climate Initiative leader Kim Carstensen. “Well meant but half-hearted pledges to protect our planet from dangerous climate change are simply not sufficient to address a crisis that calls for completely new ways of collaboration across rich and poor countries.”

Politicians around the world seem to be in agreement that we must stay below the 2 degree Celsius threshold to avoid the worst effects of climate change – in theory. However, the Copenhagen Accord adds up to at least 3 degrees of warming.

Says WWF-Philippines Climate Change Director Yeb Saño, "Copenhagen did not live up to its expectations. The Copenhagen Accord is a manifestation of the world's inability to achieve a fair, ambitious and legally binding deal. It will not protect us from global warming amounting to at least 2 degree Celsius. Millions of lives, hundreds of billions of dollars and a wealth of lost opportunities lie in the difference between rhetoric and reality on climate change action. But the fight is not over."

Attention will now shift to follow up negotiations which need to fill out many details in the often vague accord – and on a more positive note, to a host of initiatives by countries, cities, companies and communities that are starting to build low carbon economies from the base up.

WWF analyzed the conference outcome against a 10 element scorecard, finding that none of the objectives needed to fulfill the political aim of keeping average global warming below the widely agreed 2 degree Celsius high risk level had been met, although some had been partly fulfilled.

The draft Copenhagen Accord is a long way off from developing into a legally binding framework for decisive action on climate change. “We needed a treaty now and at best, we will be working on one in half a year’s time,” says Carstensen. The lack of clarity is illustrated by a call for a global peak in emissions 'as soon as possible', in contrast to the 2007 call of the IPCC for emissions to peak in 2017.

Emissions reductions pledges remain far lower than what is required, with a leaked analysis by the UNFCCC secretariat showing a shortfall that would lead to 3 degrees Celsius of warming even without considering extensive loopholes.

“We are disappointed but the story continues,” says Carstensen. “Civil society was excluded from these final negotiations to an extraordinary degree - and that was felt during the concluding days in Copenhagen. We can assure the world, however, that WWF and other elements of civil society will continue engaging in every step of further negotiations.”

WWF now encourages individuals to be more proactive in reducing ecological impacts. Concludes Saño, "If the right decisions weren't made in Copenhagen, then we should start them ourselves. Consider your impacts, reduce your consumption and join Earth Hour 2010, slated for 27 March. Collectively, we can be the change the world so badly needs."

WWF is the world’s largest and most experienced conservation organization. Help us come up with practical environmental solutions by visiting wwf.org.ph/howhelp.php or calling 895-6294. Together, we shall face environmental adversity - to leave our children a living planet.

For more information please contact:

Yeb Saño
Climate Change and Energy Programme Director, WWF-Philippines
920-7923/26/31, 0917-807-9089
nmsano@wwf.org.ph

Gregg Yan
Information, Education and Communications Officer, WWF-Philippines
920-7923/26/31
gyan@wwf.org.ph