The Melting Iceberg

Call on the UN Climate Change Conference:
2 degrees is the tipping point - make Copenhagen the turning point!

The facts are clear: the world must now take action to keep global warming under the dangerous 2°C mark. A bigger rise would be catastrophic: rising sea levels drowning whole countries and large cities, periods of drought causing water shortage and turning farmland into deserts, millions of people driven from their homes by hunger and thirst, melting glaciers and the extinction of half of all species would change the face of the world forever. Ecological collapse could lead to social breakdown, food shortage and mass migration may exacerbate political instability in some of the most volatile regions in the world, or create new geopolitical rivalries over scarce resources.
Climate change affects us all and we must act jointly to prevent it from spinning out of control. To save our planet we need a comprehensive and global agreement halving global emissions by 2050. Copenhagen must put the world on the right track with firm 2020 targets and a financing agreement that is fair and just. The transformation to low-carbon societies will be costly, but far less costly than doing nothing. Embracing this change in lifestyle comes with huge opportunities: new jobs, economic growth and sustainable development. Every nation must play its part. We share our planet and with our shared responsibility comes the need to share the burdens. Striking a fair deal on cuts and costs is the core matter of the Copenhagen Conference. Industrialized countries are responsible for most of the carbon accumulated since 1850 and they still emit vast amounts per citizen. Emissions from developing countries, who point out they desperately need economic growth, are rising fast. All countries must commit to ambitious emissions reductions. The poorest and most vulnerable countries need help of richer ones both to adapt to climate change and to invest in green technology for sustainable growth.
Yesterday, teams from 192 countries started negotiating on the draft agreement. They have another five days and nights to prepare the three days of high-level talks starting on 15 December. Next week a delegation from the S&D group will join the talks in Copenhagen with the ambition to promote emission cuts, the creation of green jobs and the funding of developing countries. We call on the representatives of the 192 countries now assembled in Copenhagen to face the global challenge of climate change as a truly global community, in solidarity. 2°C is the tipping point - make Copenhagen the turning point! The world is watching.