Bully Tactics in Bali

Press Release—The Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) alliance, representing millions in over 110 countries, expresses deep frustration at the lack of binding agreements arising from the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali which ended today, despite the last minute agreement on a roadmap.

"The intransigence of the United States, Japan and Canada in particular to agree to binding targets on reducing carbon emissions, means there is no end in sight for the devastation wrought by climate change for millions of the world’s poorest people," said Irfan Mufti, GCAP Campaign Manager. ‘The US has acted like a playground bully in these crucial negotiations- picking on smaller and weaker states and using their muscle to force others to follow their lead."

Calling for a more inclusive discourse on tackling the effects of climate change, GCAP member Rezaul Chowdhury from GCAP Bangladesh who attended the conference said, "Climate change kills people.Cyclones like the one that hit Bangladesh recently are more frequent and devastate the lives of the poorest and vulnerable people all over the world. It is scandalous that the US still refuses to agree reductions in emissions in the face of such clear hard facts."

While GCAP welcomes the last-minute agreement on a roadmap for future negotiations, it calls on all states to wake up to the serious impacts climate change is already wreaking on all the world and especially poor communities. There can be no delay in agreeing stringent binding emissions targets.

Adaptation Fund GCAP also welcomes the agreement in Bali to set up a Global Environmental Fund to help developing countries adapt to the devastating impacts of climate change and to hear that developing countries will hold a majority on the Board of the Fund.

There is, however, broad concern within GCAP that the Fund will be managed by the World Bank and that they will also provide its secretariat. A fund of this nature must be managed by an independent body and not by a multi-lateral institution whose policies have led to so much poverty and inequality over the last 50 years.

GCAP is also outraged at the limited funding to be made available for the Fund and calls on rich nations to put their money where their mouth by finding the resources to provide significantly increased funding immediately.Finally, GCAP continues to insist that all provisions made available for the Adaptation Fund are over and above existing aid commitments made by rich countries.

For more information contact: Ciara O’Sullivan, Media Coordinator GCAP, Email: Tel: + 34 679 594 809

GCAP is the world’s biggest alliance dedicated to ending poverty and inequality. It is composed of NGOs, trade unions, community groups, women’s organizations, faith and youth groups, as well as local associations and campaigners in 110 countries.In October, they helped mobilise 43.7million people against poverty and inequality. Visit http://www.whiteband.org

ENDS/

Ciara O’Sullivan Media Coordinator Global Call to Action Against Poverty - GCAP http://www.whiteband.org Spain Cel: +34 679 594 809 Spain office (CONGDE): + 34 915 23 98 65 Skype name: cmosullivan

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