It’s hard to say whether Wellington’s unseasonally cold weather can be blamed on climate change but scientists seem to agree that the unusually quick disappearance of the Arctic ice shelf is down to global warming.Meanwhile heads of governments have begun their round of meetings in Copenhagen amid a leaked document from the Danish hosts with a draft agreement which could be invoked if the talks fail to reach agreement any other way. And, half a million people have signed a petition, which Catholic development agencies Caritas Internationalis and CIDSE organised, demanding a fair, effective and binding climate change agreement.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu will hand over the signatures to UN climate chief Yvo de Boer on Sunday 13 December at the Rådhuspladsen in Copenhagen. 
“Poor people in developing countries suffer the worst consequences of a problem that rich countries created. People from South and North are therefore demanding climate justice from world leaders negotiating in Copenhagen. They are ready to take the responsibility for necessary actions and ask their political leaders to follow suit,” said Bernd Nilles, Secretary General of CIDSE. “The Copenhagen agreement needs to set ambitious emission reduction targets and ensure financial and technological support to developing countries to adapt to climate change. The deal also needs to be binding so that countries can be held accountable,” said Lesley-Anne Knight, Secretary General of Caritas Internationalis.

The question is, will the leaders be able to lay politics aside for the sake of a long-term solution which favours the common good?

Be Sociable, Share!

•