[getsmart-l] WWF warns Canadian support for last minute proposal has potential to derail Bali Climate

[Media Release]

Emacs!


For Immediate Release:


UNFCCC Climate Change Summit, Bali, Indonesia

Canadian support for last minute proposal has potential to derail 
Bali Climate Conference, warns WWF

Bali, Indonesia: December 13, 2007 - A move by the US government and 
supported by Canada could push the Bali climate negotiations to the 
brink of failure, WWF officials warned tonight. The US proposal would 
eliminate language that called upon developed nations to consider 
specific, internationally binding, quantified reduction commitments, 
replacing it with text that calls upon countries to adopt any 
measures they deem appropriate.

"At the eleventh hour the US has submitted a proposal that is the 
equivalent of taking no action at all against climate change," WWF 
International Director General James P Leape said. "This proposal 
would gut the international effort towards halting climate change and 
put the future of our planet at risk."

More than 50 members of the US Congress, from both parties, wrote to 
President Bush urging him to shift gears and play a constructive role 
in bringing these negotiations to a productive close.

"The Bush administration has a moral obligation to make commitments 
that are commensurate with their contribution to the climate crisis," 
said WWF Global Climate Change Director Hans Verolme. "The US 
government, aided by a small group of nations including Canada and 
Japan, has over the last few days thrown up several roadblocks in the 
negotiations. We are pleased that several large emerging economies, 
including China, Brazil, and South Africa, are still showing 
flexibility and creativity in their contributions to the Bali 
negotiations. That is the same spirit one would hope we could expect 
from the US. With these actions, the US jeopardizes the agreements 
that have already been reached on deforestation, technology and adaptation."

"Canada's lack of progress in reducing global warming emissions 
should not be matched by unproductive behaviour at these critical 
climate talks," said Mike Russill, President and CEO, WWF-Canada. 
"Canadians expect our government to play a constructive role, not 
undermine negotiations. We implore the Canadian government to 
immediately withdraw support for the US proposal on voluntary, 
non-binding targets."

- 30 -

For interviews in Canada please contact:

Julia Langer
Director, Global Threats, WWF-Canada
Tel: 416 484 7709
Mobile: 647 400 9579

WWF International

Avenue du Mont-Blanc
1196 Gland, Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 364 9111
Fax: +41 22 364 8307
www.panda.org



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