Bonn talks not so good

Non-governmental-organisations have attacked a draft United Nations climate change document as 'unbalanced'.


The campaigners also said the two-week talks which conclude today (June 11) were ‘stalled’ and a ‘step backward’.

The draft, which was released late last night, is meant to form the basis for intense climate change negations at COP16 in Mexico later this year.

Chair of the negotiating group, Margaret Mukahanana-Sangarwe, announced plans to cut greenhouse gases by between 25 to 40% by 2020, but crucially set no timescale.

Director of the South Centre, an intergovernmental think-tank of developing countries, Martin Khor, said: “The text has become even more imbalanced towards developed country interests.

“It leaves out many important points that the old text included, this affects the balance.

“This text removes the equity principle from the most important elements of the climate regime, it is a step backward.”

Climate campaigner for Friends of the Earth, Antje von Broock, added: “This text shows a real drift away from the principles, values and rules of the agreed international climate change legal framework.

“Developing countries have been clear on how that drift can stop: a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol.

“That’s not in the text. Friends of the Earth is asking the EU to put it there and reclaim the mantle of climate leader.”

Luke Walsh

Action inspires action. Stay ahead of the curve with sustainability and energy newsletters from edie

Subscribe