Members of Friends of the Earth not allowed into the Bella Center. Nasseem Ackbarally/IPS

By Claudia Ciobanu* COPENHAGEN (IPS/TerraViva) World leaders speaking in Copenhagen on Friday, the last day of negotiations for a deal on climate change, retreated into their national positions.

US President Barack Obama and his peers could not have been further from the call to “cooperate internationally to ensure respect for human rights everywhere in the world” contained in the People’s Declaration issued by NGOs working at the KlimaForum09 alternative summit. Continue Reading

March in Copenhagen urging world political leaders to stop talking and act now. Credit: Nasseem Ackbarally/IPS

By Raúl Pierri

COPENHAGEN (IPS/TerraViva) – The sun came out in Copenhagen Saturday for the first time this week. But even though its rays were too weak to temper the bone-chilling cold, it shone brightly over the 5,000 people who braved the weather to participate in a demonstration organised by Friends of the Earth International (FOEI).

“Flood for Climate Justice” was the slogan that gathered activists from more than 20 countries around the world, and from a wide range of social, women’s, peasant and environmental organisations, along with dozens of young local people, who came out to voice their opposition to the carbon offsetting “solution.” Continue Reading

Marta Zogbi of FOEI. Credit: Ana Libisch/IPS.

By Daniela Estrada

COPENHAGEN (IPS/TerraViva) “We have an enormous influence, because the issue of climate change has been carried forward by organised civil society. The corporate lobby is also very powerful, which is why society cannot advance as fast as it would like,” said Argentine activist Marta Zogbi of Friends of the Earth International, one of the organisers of the march. Continue Reading

Jóvenes accionando una bicicleta que genera electricidad. British Council Climate Champions. Crédito: Nasseem Ackbarally/IPS

Por Raul Pierri

COPENHAGUE (IPS/TerraViva) La UE ofrece una reducción de 20 por ciento de sus emisiones de gases invernadero para 2020 respecto de los volúmenes de 1990, y condiciona un recorte de hasta 30 por ciento a compromisos similares de otras naciones.

“Alcanzar reducciones de al menos 40 por ciento en Europa para 2020 es técnica y económicamente posible. No hay excusa para que los gobiernos no actúen ahora”, dijo en conferencia de prensa este miércoles la coordinadora de campañas por el clima de la organización, Sonja Meister. Continue Reading

Nnimmo Bassey. Credit: Courtesy FOEI

By Nnimmo Bassey

COPENHAGEN (IPS/TerraViva) – The Copenhagen climate talks could become a milestone towards ‘Climate Justice’.

Unfortunately, the chances of achieving a just and effective UN agreement in Copenhagen are very slim, mainly because the leaders of rich, developed countries are not addressing the climate crisis with the holistic, rights-based approach known as Climate Justice.

Scientists tell us that we are at the start of a climate crisis. This crisis is about people and about justice, not just polar bears. Continue Reading