World leaders are naïve if they believe blanket exploitation of the earth’s resources can continue, says the ACT Alliance of which CWS is a member. The ACT Alliance is a global coalition of agencies working to alleviate poverty in almost every developing country. On the second day of political leaders’ meetings at UN climate talks, ACT General Secretary John Nduna said the alliance fully supported developing countries’ push to ensure concrete, clear agreements came out of Durban. Nduna said there were encouraging signs that Durban was moving forward. “But it is now up to those still dragging their feet to make sure that happens. If Durban does not deliver, we know who to blame.” Developing countries have given a stern caution that delegates must come up with solutions to alleviate suffering of the people enduring the worst effects of climate change.“We need to show the world that parties are willing to forego their national interests for the interest of humanity, no matter how difficult that might be.” South Africa’s president Jacob  Zuma said at the opening ceremony of the high level segment of the conference of the parties to the UNFCCC in Durban.Putting the Green Climate Fund into operation, as well as the way long term climate finance will be raised after 2013, are still dividing governments. A new draft text proposed today on the Fund still shows a worrying number of disagreements among countries.Ethiopian President Meles Zenawi, who also coordinates the Africa Union’s Committee of Heads of State and Government on Climate Change, was right in highlighting the disappointment developed countries failed to honour their fast start finance pledge made at COP15, Nduna said. This reflected the lack of trust between countries when it came to fulfilling commitments, and explained the insistence on legally binding agreements and verifiable, transparent monitoring mechanisms. To build trust, the second commitment period for Kyoto was crucial, Nduna said, despite the fact it covered only a small proportion of world’s emissions. Only a commitment to a second period and a pledge by all countries to commit by 2015 would save Durban.  Nduna says: “At the moment there is a real danger such an agreement might not happen. The United States is not budging from its position and the EU is looking to China. I believe everybody is right to be pessimistic about that.” “In the end the economics of reality will face us all. If we don’t take care of the nature, the resources of the earth will disappear. And we will have absolutely nothing.  This is a matter of human lives. Poor people are suffering in the developing countries. Developed nations have a responsibility to find the money. Please, no more posturing.”
Notes for editors:ACT Alliance is global coalition of 125 churches and related organisations that work together in humanitarian assistance, advocacy and development. The alliance works in 140 countries and mobilises US$1.6 billion annually in its work to achieve justice for the world’s poorest people. It has over 33,000 people working for it globally.
DurbanDecember 7, 2011