Posted on 06 December 2009

Leaders from around the world have the unique opportunity in Copenhagen to act on calls of tens of millions of hopeful people who asked for a fair climate deal that can help save this planet from a devastating threat.

Everyone, rich and poor, black and white, northern or southern, wants a climate deal in Copenhagen. It is not a pile of papers but the future of all of us and next generations that is at stake in Copenhagen.

There are twelve days to save the planet and we all must use them. Especially those who have the power to make a decision are carrying an immense responsibility.

“Signing a fair, ambitious and binding deal in Copenhagen means responding to calls of tens of millions people and a failure to agree on a deal means simply ignoring them,” said Kim Carstensen, the leader of the Global Climate Initiative from WWF. “Ignoring millions of people will come at a great price for the whole world.”

“The green light for a climate deal is there and now leaders have to make the steps” “ We all need to remind ourselves everyday that we are not only talking about money, paragraphs and amendments but about our lives, other peoples lives and lives of our children and grandchildren.”

According to WWF world leaders have a priceless opportunity to show that politics is able to look beyond next parliamentary elections and party rivalries. They can show that politics can be fair and responsive to peoples’ needs.

“An ambitious climate deal provides a unique opportunity for leaders to win trust of their voters, show true leadership and open up endless economic and market opportunities around the world.”

Citizens, media, NGOs, businesses, church members and most other relevant institutions have given politicians their backing and urged them to make the only right decision. Copenhagen is the time to act on the call.

The climate deal reached in Copenhagen must secure deep emissions cuts from industrialized countries, together with predictable and additional long-term funding to protect the poor against the effects of climate change and to enable them to move onto a low-carbon development path. And it must provide a new framework for ambitious climate action to limit emissions in developing countries.

We have very positive signs with leaders like the Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and U.S President Barack Obama announcing their participation in the conference.

“It’s a big step that India is putting forward its commitment to combat climate change.”

“We commend President Obama for his decision to be in Copenhagen during what is likely to be the critical moment in the UN climate talks. Clearly this news injects a renewed sense of optimism that we can nail down a deal in Copenhagen,” Carstensen said.

Providing the financial support to help developing countries to reduce their emissions and cope with impacts of climate change is the key to unlocking a global agreement.

“We are happy that President Obama will engage in discussing both short-term and long-term financing. These are both needed as deciding factor for a successful Copenhagen outcome.”