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Minimal progress in Copenhagen

DCA partners presenting and "Overdue invoice" on the rich countries climate debt outside COP 15 headquarters. The invoice will remain unpaid until further notice. Photo. mkl

” We did not get an ambitious climate deal in Copenhagen. We got a declaration, which was taken ad notam. This is the weakest result we could possibly imagine,” says Christian Friis Bach, International Director of DanChurchAid.

Although the declaration is minimal, he stresses that it is still a positive step for the climate. “Hopefully the declaration and the frail promises of extra money for the developing countries will help rebuild the trust that was crushed during the negotiations in Copenhagen,” he says.

Send more money

The Copenhagen declaration states that the worlds poorest countries are entitled to 100 billion dollars ti fight climate change.

Furthermore, the declaration contains a document where the countries can add the intended reduction targets.

"It is not enough money. Furthermore, it is unclear which countries are to pay and where the money will come from. With the current promises of reductions we will have a global rise in temperatures of at least 3 degrees celcius,” says Christian Friis Bach.

Rebuilding trust

Henrik Stubkjær, Secretary General in DanChurchAid, stresses that we must look forward. Our work is far from done.

”It is more important than ever hat the rich countries meet their obligations. They must strive to rebuild the trust between rich and poor countries that they wasted during the climate summit,” says Henrik Stubkjær.

Massive public support

Henrik Stubkjær encourages the many supporters of the climate cause to keep fighting.

”The massive public support of the climate cause from the global community will live on and will help define the coming climate negotiations,” says Henrik Stubkjær.

A new climate summit in Germany in 2010 will probably result in more legally binding agreements than Cop 15 in Copenhagen.