Copenhagen Watch 2

Rich countries blocking talks

Various sources are reporting that developing countries are blocking negotiations in Copenhagen. This is not true. The first task for negotiations in Copenhagen was for rich countries to make new commitments under the Kyoto protocol for reducing emissions. They are not doing so, they are killing the talks. We need you to take action now. Email Gordon Brown by clicking here and selecting ‘Contact the Prime Minister’. Copy and paste the bullet points below or write in your own words.

As one African negotiator has said: “We cannot, we can never accept the killing of the Kyoto protocol. It will mean the killing of Africa."

So far the EU has offered to cut its own emissions by just 10 per cent on 1990 levels by 2020, and has hinted it wants Kyoto ended. Japan has refused to make any commitments under Kyoto. Australia and New Zealand are refusing to make any commitments until they get further loopholes involving tree planting. The US still refuses to join Kyoto, and its emission reduction offer allows emissions to be higher in 2020 than 1990.

At the same time, civil society is being shut out of the talks. Thousands are being denied access. Voices from across the global south are being silenced.

Today, Tuesday, Gordon Brown is arriving in Copenhagen and the EU is meeting to decide its position on Kyoto. Email the Prime Minister now to tell him that:

· It is rich countries who are blocking negotiations.

· The UK and EU must unilaterally commit to reduce their own emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2020 on 1990 levels, under the Kyoto protocol.

· Only through making such commitments can the EU and UK put pressure on other rich countries to do the same.

· The silencing of civil society, especially from the global south, is unacceptable.

. He should back proposals for rich countries to repay their climate debt to the south, including transferring adequate resources for both adaptation and low-carbon development to poor countries.

1) Click here and select ‘Contact the Prime Minister’. Copy and paste the bullet points above or write in your own words.

2) Tweet Ed Miliband: ‘@EdMilibandMP Don't kill Kyoto. Commit to reduce the UK's and EU 's own emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2020. Now.’