ActionAid calls for EU climate leadership

As negotiators in Copenhagen struggle to break the climate deadlock, eyes are turning to Brussels, where heads of states and governments today meet for the European Council. The EU was expected to play a leading role in Copenhagen but so far little ambition has been shown.

10. December 2009

“A fair deal will not be reached in Copenhagen if the EU refuses to announce concrete figures for the long term financing of climate change in developing countries”, said Raman Mehta, ActionAid's climate finance specialist from India.

“Millions of people in developing countries are already feeling the impact of climate change on their daily lives. They are waiting for the EU to show leadership and pay its climate debt. It’s time for the EU to step up and pay up with new money, additional to existing aid commitments”, added Mehta.

Research by the Stamp out Poverty coalition suggest that around €54 billion per year could be raised by a combination of four international mechanisms. The EU needs to support automatic revenue-generating mechanisms guaranteeing regular money to tackle climate change.

The Council will discuss a short-term climate finance package designed to kick-start progress towards a new climate deal. But this is being treated by the Europeans as an opportunity to fix their figures, as the vast majority of funds are expected to come from existing aid budgets.

Frans Mikael Jansen, General Secretary of ActionAid Denmark, following Denmark’s announcement yesterday of a €162 million pledge taken from aid budgets for fast-start climate finance: "Climate change does not provide an excuse for politicians to break their commitments to fight world poverty. The EU member states should show more climate leadership and create a separate pot for climate funds. Rich countries have a climate debt to pay and it’s time for them to pay up!”

The Council will also discuss the EU's emission targets which must be raised if Copenhagen is to be a success.

"The EU must agree to immediately move from 20 to 30% as a first step on the road to a 40% reduction. Forty percent is the minimum needed to contain global warming below 1.5°C", added Jansen.