Posted on 08 June 2009

Update November 2009

Some voices now say that we have run out of time for a comprehensive climate change deal in Copenhagen; that we should only focus on some of the early action and implementation issues and tackle the politically difficult issues later; that a scientifically-based, comprehensive and ratifiable outcome is not feasible at this point in time; or not necessary.

Our response is: we do not need more time, it is not impossible, what we need is the political will to take the hard, ambitious decisions to reach agreement on a comprehensive and legally binding deal in Copenhagen, in December 2009.

The Real Deal for Copenhagen: a proposal for treaty language for an amended Kyoto Protocol and a new Copenhagen Protocol based on the official UN negotiation texts.

A climate deal at Copenhagen is not impossible: we do not need more time, what we need is the political will to take the hard, ambitious decisions to reach agreement on a comprehensive and legally binding deal in Copenhagen, in December 2009.

This document demonstrates that all the core elements are on the table: it is a compilation of text put forth by Parties themselves, taken from the most recent non-papers. Text has been adjusted and edited where it is not ambitious enough, or where linkages are missing, and sorted into a coherent legal framework. In a few cases, it has been supplemented by paragraphs to address gaps in the current non-papers.

The briefing papers listed below support the NGO treaty document.

Biodiversity Briefing
In version 1.0 of the Copenhagen Climate Treaty consideration of biodiversity and ecosystems is implicit in the carbon budget and the related targets. More explicitly, biodiversity and ecosystems are referred to in the shared vision, adaptation and reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation sections.

Shipping and Aviation Briefing
This paper describes a change in the approach to international bunker emissions from that taken in Treaty Version 1.0.

ZCAPs Briefing
Version 1.0 of the Treaty proposed that all developed countries, including newly industrialized countries (NICs), submit a Zero Carbon Action Plan (ZCAP) for their country to the proposed Copenhagen Climate Facility.

Full NGO Treaty released in June 2009

In June this year climate change experts from leading non-governmental organisations produced a blueprint for a legally binding Copenhagen agreement.

The 160-page Copenhagen Climate Treaty, which was distributed to negotiators from 192 states, took some of the world's most experienced climate NGO's almost a year to write and contains a full legal text covering all the main elements needed to provide the world with a fair and ambitious agreement that keeps climate change impacts below the unacceptable risk levels identified by most scientists.



This is the first time in history that a coalition of civil society groups has taken such a step. Together we have produced the most coherent legal document to date showing balanced and credible climate solutions based on equity and sciencesaid Kim Carstensen of WWF International.

The document describes the path the world must be on to avoid catastrophic climate change, recognising that global temperature increase must be kept well below 2 degrees Celsius. It sets a global cap on emissions a carbon budget and explains in detail how both industrialised and developing countries can contribute to the safety of the planet and its people, according to their means and responsibilities and shows how the poorest and most vulnerable on the planet can be protected and compensated.

The Copenhagen Climate Treaty, was drafted by Greenpeace, WWF, IndyACT the League of Independent Activists, Germanwatch, David Suzuki Foundation, National Ecological Centre of Ukraine and expert individuals from around the world.

Expert for interviews:

Kim Carstensen Leader, WWF Global Climate Initiative E: k.carstensen@wwf.dk M: +45-40-343635	Kathrin Gutmann Head of Policy, WWF Global Climate Initiative E: kathrin.gutmann @wwf.de M: +49-162-2914428
Wael Hmaidan IndyACT the League of Independent Activists E:whmaidan@indyact.org Tel/Fax: +961-1-447192	Christopher Bals Executive Director Policy, Germanwatch E: bals@germanwatch.org T: +49 174 3275669
Martin Kaiser Climate Political Coordinator, Greenpeace International       E: martin.kaier@greenpeace.org T: +49 171 8780817	David Marshall David Suzuki Foundation E: dmarshall@davidsuzuki.org
Irina Stavchuk National Ecological Centre of Ukraine E: irina.stavchuk@necu.org.ua T: +38(044)238-62-60

For more information or interview arrangements contact:

Ashwini Prabha E: aprabha@wwfint.org                                     M: +41-79-8741682

Stephanie Tunmore E: Stephanie.Tunmore@uk.greenpeace.org M: +44 7796947451