A number of non-government organizations walked out of the climate talks in Warsawdue to disappointment over lack of progress.
N.G.O.s such as the World Wide Fund for Nature, Greenpeace, Oxfam, Friends of the Earth, and 350.org held a massive walkout from the Warsaw climate talksstating that they were seeing no progress and a favorable bias to polluters.
“Enough is enough,” said the WWF in a statement. “The Warsaw Climate Conference, which should have been an important step in the just transition to a sustainable future, is on track to deliver virtually nothing.”
The WWF pointed out that the conference was held in conjunction with the “Coal and Climate Summit” event which had “corporate sponsorship from big polluters plastered all over the venue.”
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The organization also expressed their disappointment with Japan and Canada, countries which announced that they are backtracking on their previously made emission cut commitments, as well as with Australia giving signals that it is unwilling to take the United Nations climate process seriously.
“Along with backsliding by Japan, Australia and Canada, and the lack of meaningful leadership from other countries, governments here have delivered a slap in the face to those suffering as a result of dangerous climate change,” said Greenpeace’s International Executive Director Kumi Naidoo in a statement.
“The E.U. is being shackled by the Polish government and its friends in the coal industry, and must resume leading on the climate agenda in Paris is going to deliver a treaty that matters,” he added.
The Friends of the Earth U.S. said that the lack of action from developed countries, particularly the U.S., drove the organizations to walkout from the climate conference. The organization further highlighted that governments of developed countries have prevented even minimal progress at the negotiations.
“As it now stands, climate devastation will be part of President Obama’s legacy, unless he chooses to change course. He can start by rejecting the dirty Keystone XL pipeline, and getting behind an international climate agreement that is in line with what science, equity and justice demand,” the Friends of the Earth said in their statement.
The organizations walked out from the conference to show their solidarity to those who have suffered from the effects of climate change, including the millions recently impacted by Typhoon Haiyan(see related story).
“It’s time to stop sitting in negotiating halls and stand with the Philippines and millions more who are calling for real climate action in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan,” said 350.org in their statement.
“By walking out of C.O.P.19, we’re walking into a fight with the real enemies to progress: the coal, oil and gas companies that have a stranglehold over our governments and economy,” 350.org argued.
Other N.G.O.s that have also expressed their disappointment with the conference are AksyonKlimaPilipinas, ActionAid, Bolivian Platform on Climate Change, ConstruyendoPuentes, Ibon International, International Trade Union Confederation, LDC Watch, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, and People’s Movement on Climate Change (Philippines). – L. Polintan
