The actions of rich countries have weakened the chances of a just global deal in Copenhagen in December, according to international development agency ActionAid, at the end of climate change talks in Bonn over the last fortnight.

“It is now crystal clear that the world is not on track to reach a just global deal to tackle climate change fairly or effectively in December,” said Tom Sharman, ActionAid’s Head of Climate Change policy. “A political earthquake is essential if we are to contain the climate crisis. Rich countries radically need to change their positions.”

The EU, Australia and Japan have all presented derisory 2020 targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, falling well below the 40%+, against 1990 levels, required by science. The US and most other rich countries have so far failed to present any target at all.

The industrialised world is failing to address the most urgent needs of those on the front-line of climate impacts. Stalling on the provision of the US$86 billion a year of new money needed to enable vulnerable people to adapt and the creation of a new institution to disburse it fairly, serves only to block progress.

Read ActionAid’s detailed verdict on the Bonn climate talks

Notes to editors:

• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s Fourth Assessment Report released in 2007 recommended that rich countries adopt 2020 greenhouse gas emission reduction targets of 25-40% against 1990 levels. Many scientists have since argued for tougher targets and the Alliance of Small Island States calls for a rich country 2020 target of a 45% cut (http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2009/awg7/eng/misc07.pdf page 21).
• The US$86 billion per year for climate change adaptation is from the UNDP’s Human Development Report 2007/2008, page 194 For more on climate finance please see ActionAid (2009) Who should pay to tackle climate change in developing countries?
  
• For some of the arguments against using existing institutions to channel climate finance see ActionAid (2009) The case against the World Bank’s role in tackling climate change