As the UN Cancún climate talks enter their final day, Greenpeace and TckTckTck, have thrown a lifeline to Ministers to help them make the choices needed to save the climate. A human banner representing the Earth was formed inside a giant life ring on the beach from which a lifeline was thrown to «delegates» floundering in the sea.
The outcome of the Cancún talks remains unclear – as it stands there are good and bad options on the table. Today’s activity reminds Ministers that they can still make the right choices to put us on the path to a clean and safe future.
«At the last day of the Cancún climate talks there is still time for governments to make the right choices», said Kumi Naidoo, Greenpeace International Executive Director. Civil society has thrown a lifeline to ministers and they need to reach out and grab this opportunity to create momentum for a legally binding deal in my home town of Durban.
Governments in Cancún still have a chance to deliver on crucial elements such as ensuring agreement to help tackle the so-called Gigatonne Gap (the gap between the greenhouse gas emission reduction pledges on the table, and what is really needed to save the climate), and set us on the pathway needed to achieve a legally binding deal in Durban, South Africa next year.
Today’s activity was orchestrated by renowned human banner aerial artist, John Quigley. It is a demonstration that the role of civil society in these meetings, and outside, is crucial. People all over the world are demanding action in Cancún, but whatever the outcome civil society will continue to push for a fair, ambitious and binding treaty to the save the climate.
«A handful of countries – Japan, Russia, and Canada to name a few – are acting like lead weights, dragging the negotiations into deeper water – said Kelly Rigg, TckTckTck Campaign Executive Director -. But governments should be buoyed by the actions of civil society: all over the world, businesses, communities, families and individuals are rolling up their sleeves and building a low carbon future».
(Fonte Greenpeace)
