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Sierra Club Outlines Hopes for Bali Climate Conference Organization says U.S. and Canada have isolated themselves on the world stage Washington, D.C. & Ottawa, ON-- The Sierra Club (U.S. and Canada) today urged the US and Canadian delegations not to block progress at the United Nations conference on global warming which opens in Bali this week. "Ultimately, the United States will not be judged by the rhetoric of its diplomats in Bali, but by our concrete actions to reduce our global warming emissions at home," said Stephen Mills, Director of the Sierra Club’s International Programs. "Bush administration officials are very good at using green-sounding language to describe their domestic initiatives that in fact undermine environmental protections and conservation. At this meeting the whole world will be holding President Bush and our Congress accountable." "The Bali negotiations are an opportunity for Canada to move from laggard to leader in the fight against global warming," said Jean Langlois, National Campaigns Director for the Sierra Club of Canada. "Canada and the US in are isolated from the rest of the world in trying to block binding targets that would hold developed countries accountable for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This position is fundamentally at odds with Canadian public opinion. Bali is an opportunity for our delegation to represent the will of Canadians." The entire world--nearly 200 countries in all--is gathering in Bali, Indonesia between December 3-14, 2007 to address the fast-arriving effects of global warming, the findings of climate science and the early results of efforts to stop dangerous climate change. Most importantly, the Bali meetings must set the stage for the crucial second phase of work starting in 2013 under the UN Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol. Some are calling the package of agreements to be adopted this month the Bali Mandate. "We are also realistic," said Mills. "Official national policy opposing the Kyoto Protocol will not change until the current administration leaves office. But thereafter, the Bali Mandate should provide an open path toward reconnecting the US to the global process. Global issues require global solutions." Langlois added: "No country will avoid the impacts of climate change unless each country takes more aggressive action in the second Kyoto commitment period after 2012." Key Sierra Club Supported Outcomes for the COP13/MOP3 Meetings include: Agreement on a coordinated and clear two-year timetable and detailed work program for both the UNFCCC ("Convention track") and the Kyoto Protocol ("Kyoto track"), leading to an agreement at the UN meetings in Copenhagen at the end of 2009. This will provide time for all countries to ratify treaty amendments, maintain momentum, and avoid any delay or gap once Commitment Period 1 ends in 2012. Adoption of goals to limit global temperatures to no more than 2 degrees C above pre-industrial levels, keep greenhouse gas levels at 450 ppm CO2 equivalent or less, and review these goals regularly with regard to new scientific information. Commitment to adopt short term (2020) and intermediate (2050) global goals for emissions reductions to achieve the 2 degree C/450 ppm limit as part of the Kyoto/Copenhagen agreement. Provide broad flexibility and resources to Subsidiary Bodies, Working Groups and other delegated bodies to assure rapid progress, prepare strong and detailed proposals as soon as possible, and accelerate the negotiations for a final agreement in Copenhagen in 2009. On Monday, December 3, the Sierra Club hosted a side event at the Grand Hyatt in Bali on the organization’s Cool Cities Program, an exciting approach to building local grassroots power to take action on global warming. Sierra Club's Cool Cities program recruits and engages local citizens in securing commitments from local public officials to establish goals for greenhouse gas reductions and to plan for how to achieve those reductions. Thousands of Cool Cities volunteers are working in hundreds of cities across the United States and Canada to advocate for local action on global warming. These local volunteers are also active at the state, provincial and federal levels advocating for policies and action on climate change. --------- With over 1.3 million members and supporters, Sierra Club, established in 1892 by John Muir, is the oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. Sierra Club of Canada has active chapters and groups in every region of the country. Audio Actualities from Carl Pope, Sierra Club’s Executive Director, will be available from Tuesday, December 4 online at www.sierraclub.org/pressroom/media. Sierra Club Factsheet on the Bali Meeting: http://www.sierraclub.org/international/bali.pdf Local contact information for Stephen Mills and Carl Pope will be available following their arrival in Bali. Please contact Josh Dorner, 202.675.2384 or josh.dorner@sierraclub.org, for that information. # # # |
