Half a million people call for climate justice at Copenhagen

Friday, 11 December 2009 10:37

Half a million people signed up to global campaigns run by the Catholic networks of development agencies Caritas Internationalis & CIDSE and the Countdown to Co2penhagen campaign, joining forces to demand a fair, effective and binding climate change agreement in Copenhagen.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu will hand over the signatures to UN climate chief Yvo de Boer on Sunday 13 December at the Rådhuspladsen in Copenhagen.

World leaders are set to agree a new international climate deal that will come into force when the first phase of the Kyoto treaty expires in 2012.

The international networks held public actions around the world in 2009 to raise awareness about climate change and its devastating impacts on people living in poverty in developing countries.

“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, 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.

What: Ecumenical handover of signatures of Countdown to Co2penhagen & Create Climate Justice Petitions

Who: Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Yvo de Boer – UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Nafisa D’Souza (India), Umme Kulsum (Bangladesh), Marcos Nordgren (Bolivia), Mahlet (Ethiopia), Augustine Njamnshi (Cameroon) and Bishop Olav Skjevesland (Norway)

When: Saturday 11.30 – 12.30

Where: Rådhuspladsen (City Hall square of Copenhagen)

Read more here.