Update from Bonn UN climate talks

Climate deal spells climate and forest disaster

The Wilderness Society attended the latest round of UN climate deals talks in Bonn, Germany to help deliver a safe climate for people and the planet.

Gemma Tillack reports.  

The climate talks have reached a new stage with the creation of draft legal text. This is important for ensuring that the next global climate deal can be finalised in Copenhagen in December.  

Developing countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, like the Pacific Island states continued to plead with developed countries, like Australia, the USA and the EU countries, to commit to 40% cuts in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 and 95% cuts by 2050 to give them a chance of survival.

Sadly, developed countries have not committed to these targets and continued to set a low bar in Bonn. Japan announced a disappointing 8% cut based on 1990 levels and the United States of America and Australia are still only working on implementing domestic climate change reduction plans that will result in a meager 4% cuts based on 1990 levels. While trying to confuse everyone by talking about different ‘base years’ to 1990.

The role of protecting forests to limit the impacts of climate change was discussed and there is a shared understanding that the next climate deal must ensure the reduction of global emissions from deforestation (clearing) and forest degradation (logging). However, if it is adopted in its current form, the draft climate deal may lead to subsidising increased logging of oldgrowth forests and the conversion of forests to palm oil and fibre plantations in developing countries. This would be a climate and biodiversity disaster.

Australia was pushing the idea that the next climate deal should promote plantations, known as Aforestation and Reforestation without advocating for safeguards that would avoid adverse impacts on existing forests,  biodiversity and Indigenous Peoples rights. We met the Australian negotiators to make sure they understood that promoting plantations, instead of prioritizing the protection of forests in the climate deal, could lead to Governments or big polluters claiming offsets by funding the broadscale clearing of native forests in developing countries for palm oil and pulp plantations. 

We are continuing to work hard to ensure that nature and all of our futures are protected in the next climate deal and we need your help.

Please write to Prime Minister Rudd and ask him to commit to serious deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions and act immediately to protect Australia’s forests today.

With your help we will ensure a safe climate for us, nature and future generations.

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