UK Government Spins its Route to Copenhagen

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Published: 30 June 2009

UK Government Spins its Route to Copenhagen

PM, Gordon Brown has ‘set out’ how the world should pay for avoiding dangerous climate change and adapting to its impacts.

With less than 6 months left before crucial climate negotiations take place in the Danish capital Copenhagen, the Government has said why an international climate change agreement is vital for the world and what a deal must contain.

The UK argues the global deal on climate change must be:

· Ambitious – limit climate change to 2 degrees, by making sure global greenhouse gas emissions peak and start to reduce by 2020, and keep on shrinking to reach at most half of their 1990 levels by 2050

· Effective – keep all countries to their word with strong monitoring, reporting and verification; and let money flow to where it will make most difference by developing carbon markets

· Fair – support the poorest countries to cut their emissions and adapt to climate change

Success in Copenhagen is also vital for Britain’s economic future and national security. Building a low carbon Britain and securing a Copenhagen deal will be in our business & economic interests.

ver 800,000 people are now employed in the low carbon sector in the UK and well over a million jobs are predicted by the middle of the next decade.

In his speech, the PM urged countries to provide around $100bn per year by 2020 to help developing countries reduce their emissions, tackle deforestation and adapt to the climate change already being experienced.

He committed the UK to providing new finance additional to existing Official Development Assistance commitments.

Publishing ‘The Road to Copenhagen’, a manifesto for a global climate deal, Ed Miliband said:

“The world’s got no option but to work together to get a global climate deal that’s ambitious, effective and fair….. “For people in Britain, getting a global deal now will mean reducing the risk of devastating future climate impacts and the huge extra costs that would bring. But it will also open the door to big new opportunities to create green jobs and economic prosperity.”

In advance of the G8 and Major Economies Summits in Italy next month, Gordon Brown urged his fellow leaders to agree on a new financing system to provide predictable & additional assistance to developing countries.

This would comprise investment flowing through a global carbon market, new mechanisms to raise public finance and a limited proportion of Official Development Assistance.

The funds would help developing countries to cut their emissions, use greener technology and reduce deforestation, as well as helping the poorest and most vulnerable countries cope with the effects of climate change already now occurring.

The Prime Minister also proposed delivery & institutional arrangements to enhance developing countries’ voice in how the money is spent and to enhance coordination between all the institutions dealing with climate finance.

As part of the countdown to Copenhagen, the Government has:

Published & laid before Parliament ‘The Road to Copenhagen’, a document setting out why a deal is so important and for the first time, the details of what kind a deal the UK Government is pushing for

Distributed nearly 20,000 ‘Road to Copenhagen’ pamphlets, also available online, out to schools, citizens advice centres and every library explaining why a global deal is vital and giving 15 top tips on what each of us can do to cut our carbon footprint as part of the global effort.

Launched the official UK government website presenting information on the climate change negotiations, which will act as the domestic & international hub for information & communications in the lead up to the UN talks in Copenhagen, 2009

Presented a ‘new & improved’ Act on CO2 online carbon calculator where people can log on & find out how to lower their carbon footprint and save money at the save time

The announcement forms part of the Government’s 5-Point Plan to tackle climate change:

· protecting the public from immediate risk

· preparing for the future through adaptation

· pushing for an international agreement

· building a low carbon Britain

· helping everyone play their part

It follows the UK Climate Projections published recently which showed that if the world follows a high emissions path, by the 2080s temperatures in Britain could be up to 12 degrees C warmer on the hottest summer days and sea levels could rise by 36 cm.

Further information

‘The Road to Copenhagen’

Government Copenhagen website

New & improved Act on CO2 online carbon calculator

UK climate projections

Official Copenhagen Conference Website (7 – 18 December 2009)

Official Development Assistance

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