Posted on December, 13 2019

Madrid, 18:00 CET, 13 December - Commenting on the latest status of UN climate talks in Madrid, Vanessa Pérez-Cirera, WWF's head of delegation for COP25 said:

“We have not heard any of the countries with the highest emissions like the United States, China, Australia, India, Japan or Brazil, among others make commitments to increase their 2030 climate pledges. At the moment there are good options in the negotiating text that urge countries to take action to respond to the climate urgency in 2020, and Parties must keep them in.

“Big emitters still have a chance to show the world that they are willing participants in the global collective effort to tackle the climate crisis. They must agree to an explicit mention in the COP decision text requesting countries to submit enhanced climate pledges by a cut-off date of October 2020 or earlier. This will allow for an analysis of our climate efforts to be published before COP26 in Glasgow, which will reveal whether or not we have significantly reduced the gigatonne gap and are on the path to a 1.5°C world.

“These major historical emitters will return to their respective countries and will have to respond to the will and the worries of a determined and growing youth and citizenry who are demanding immediate action on the climate crisis.

“Failing to act now and impeding those who are working in good faith to rise to this challenge is dangerously irresponsible. It will not be forgotten.”

-Ends-

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