Lawmakers head for climate summit

Senior lawmakers from across the Americas are set to meet at the weekend in an attempt to agree how the region will contribute to tackling global environmental and financial crises.


The first meeting of the GLOBE (Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment) Americas Legislators Forum, in Mexico City, is intended to open up discussions ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference in Poland next month.

It will be the first time politicians from all the Americas have assembled to discuss measures to address climate change.

“In the context of the current economic slowdown, we will be examining how the low carbon agenda can act as an engine for economic recovery while at the same time increasing energy and climate security,” said Elliot Morley MP, president of GLOBE International.

“A statement of intent from this forum would be a significant advance ahead of the UNFCCC talks in Poland in December, and demonstrate it is possible for politicians from the developed and developing world to break the current deadlock and agree on a way ahead.”

GLOBE International hopes that this agreement will build on its Post-2012 Framework Paper, agreed to by the G8 nations as well as China, India, South Africa, Brazil and Mexico at a meeting in Tokyo, in July.

Countries agreed to a global 50% cut in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2050.

Representatives of North, Central, South American and Caribbean countries are all expected to attend the meeting, which kicks off on Friday.

“Latin American and Caribbean countries are part of the solution when it comes to fighting climate change while fostering economic growth,” said Pamela Cox, World Bank vice president for Latin America and the Caribbean.

“A level playing field in the international climate change debate is needed in order to ensure that there is synergy, not antagonism, between the twin goals of economic growth and environmental responsibility.”

Kate Martin

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