Day 2: Highlights from Poznan - EU and Poland 'fossilised' at first awards

2 December 2008

On each day of the Poznan climate talks, the international coalition of environmental groups under the banner of 'CAN' (Climate Action Network) present a 'Fossil Award' to the country who for that day, has showed the worst behavior in reducing climate change at the conference.

In Poznan, The Wilderness Society delegation will be urging world leaders to take strong action to reduce logging and land clearing - as part of the global plan to tackle climate change.

Yesterday Poland was awarded the 'Fossil Award' for its uninspiring remarks at the opening ceremony and its attempts to weaken the EU (European Unions) position on climate change.

Snubbing the host country with the opening 'fossil' sure got plenty of media over here and firmly placed Poland and other European countries on notice to agree to tough new CO₂ emissions targets and measures to help developing countries reduce emissions, especially from land clearing and logging.

Today the whole 20-something countries which make up the EU won the award for bringing no or weak positions to important aspects of the negotiations.

But with the election of President Obama, the vibe here seems more upbeat. The United States is the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, and Obama has agreed to sign the Kyoto Protocol, pledging last month that the U.S. 'will once again engage vigorously in these negotiations. When I am President ... any nation that's willing to join the cause of combating climate change will have an ally in the United States of America.'

Talk's cheap though and after President Obama takes office in January, their administration will have less than year to commit to tough action on reducing emissions in the lead up to the signing of the new protocol in December '09 in Copenhagen.

 
Check out our regular 'Postcards from Poznan' for updates and progress on the climate change negotiations.

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