COP28: Weak climate deal slammed

Responding to the conclusion of the COP28 climate conference in Dubai, Friends of the Earth’s international climate campaigner, Rachel Kennerley – who has been attending the talks - said:

“Self-interest, weak leadership and a lack of urgency by wealthy countries like the UK, Japan and US and the EU bloc, has resulted in a desperately inadequate COP28 resolution that leaves the world on a collision course with the worst of climate breakdown.  

“These talks will never achieve the breakthrough we need until the rich countries that have contributed most to the climate crisis, including the UK, face up to their responsibilities by phasing out the use of fossil fuels fairly and fast and by providing adequate funding for poorer nations.

“Rishi Sunak may like to claim that the UK is showing global leadership on this issue, but under his premiership key climate policies have been watered down, his international promise to cut UK emissions by a third has veered dangerously off course and he has declared an ambition to ‘max out’ North Sea gas and oil.

“We urgently need our leaders to seize the huge opportunities growing a green economy would bring, from new, long-term jobs and lower energy bills, to improving our health and wellbeing, as well as protecting the planet for future generations.”

ENDS

Notes
1. Last week Friends of the Earth revealed that the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s repeated pledge to honour a key international climate commitment is veering dangerously off track - and the emissions gap has grown enormously under his leadership.
2. Friends of the Earth continues to call on wealthy nations to provide sufficient funding to help all countries kick fossil fuels and help communities on the front line adapt to the growing impacts of a rapidly warming planet.