Record Breaking Year for Climate, says WWF
03.12.2007
Opening Statement For immediate release Monday, 3 Dec UNFCCC Climate Change Summit, Bali, Indonesia 3-14 Dec
Bali, Indonesia – The past year has seen yet more weather records smashed as extreme weather events take a firmer hold of the planet, says WWF.
The overview from the global conservation organization, Breaking Records in 2007 – Climate Change, shows record lows for sea ice cover in the Arctic, some of the worst forest fires ever seen and record floods.
“Events like these show the urgent need to take decisive action on climate change,” says Hans Verolme, Director of WWF’s Global Climate Change Programme. “Keeping warming below a 2ºC global average is key to preventing dangerous extreme events such as these which punctuated 2007.”
Jakarta, Indonesia experienced torrential rainfall in February 2007 leading to one of the worst flooding in its history. The flooding displaced 400,000 inhabitants, caused numerous outbreaks of disease and cost the economy US$450 million.
“It’s here and now - Indonesia is already suffering from the impacts of global warming,” says Fitrian Ardiansyah, WWF-Indonesia. “The Indonesian government must lead the Bali summit towards a safer future.”
Meanwhile, 2007 saw the continuation of severe droughts in many parts of the world, such as the Amazon, Australia, Africa and various regions in China. More often than not, it has led to some of the worst forest fires we have seen, devastating areas in Southern and Eastern Europe and the western United States.
September 16 marked the lowest area of summer sea ice cover in the Artic beating the previous record set in 2005, decreasing by an area equivalent to Texas and California combined.
“Rich countries can show they are serious about stopping global warming in its tracks by committing in Bali to emissions reductions of at least 30 per cent by 2020,” said Dr.Stephan Singer, Head of WWF’s European Climate Change Programme. “Time is fast running out – we need to use the Kyoto system to expand global carbon markets and stimulate investments in clean technologies.”
For further information: Brian Thomson, WWF International, t +62 813 1808 5548, . Martin Hiller, WWF Global Climate Change Programme, t +62 813 1875 9492, . Elshinta Marsden, WWF-Indonesia, t +62 8161806321,
Notes:
· The fact sheet Breaking Records in 2007 – Climate Change, can be found at http://www.panda.org/climate
· Briefing – WWF’s Beginners Guide to the UN Climate Talks. Download from <http://www.panda.org/climate >
· For a copy of Climate Change in Indonesia – Implications for Humans and Nature you should go to http://www.panda.org/climate
· For a copy of Climate Change Impacts on APEC countries, you should go to http://assets.panda.org/downloads/cc_impacts_on_apec_countries.pdf
Media Advisory UN Climate Conference
Bali 3-14 December 2007
Background: In 1992, most countries joined the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to fight global warming and to adapt to the inevitable temperature increases. Fifteen years later Indonesia will host the third Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (MOP3) in conjunction with the 13th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP13) in Bali from 3 to 14 December. The Bali conference will be the culmination of a momentous twelve months in the international climate debate. Over the past year, overwhelming scientific evidence of global warming, set out in the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), put the reality of human-induced global warming beyond any reasonable doubt.
Key Issues:
· Governments attending the UN’s Climate Change Summit in Bali in December must make deeper cuts in emissions post-2012. "Bali is about more than talking,” says Hans Verolme, Director of WWF’s Global Climate Change Programme. “The rich countries can show they are serious about stopping global warming in its tracks by committing in Bali to emissions reductions of at least 30 per cent by 2020. Time is fast running out – we need to use the Kyoto system to expand global carbon markets and stimulate investments in clean technologies.”
· Governments of rich countries must increase funding for climate change adaptation in less developed countries. “Climate change is hitting home, and we can clearly see the first impacts here in Indonesia,” says WWF-Indonesia’s Climate and Energy Programme Director, Fitrian Ardiansyah. “It’s only fair that polluters support us when we build up our defences against climate change. But we can act directly ourselves too, by halting the destruction of tropical forests, which is one of the major sources of CO2.”
· The world must cut emissions by 80 per cent by the middle of this century. "The clean technologies and smart policies necessary to combat climate change exist already - all we need is for political decision-makers to give them the strong support they deserve,” says Dr Stephan Singer, Head of WWF’s European Climate Change Programme. “The world needs a third industrial revolution for a low-carbon development in all large CO2 emitting nations - the negotiations here will show if our political leaders can start this task.”
Media Events/Activities:
· Opening Statement– Extreme Weather Report - Monday 3 December
· Stunt/Photo Opportunity - Climate Stunt – 0800-1000 outside registration area Monday 3 December
· Daily Media Statement - 0930 every day from Tuesday 4 December.
· International Press Release – Amazon and Climate Change Report – Press Conference 1030 Thursday 6 December
· Stunt/Photo Opportunity – Ministers show commitment to Kyoto – Monday 10 December to Friday 14 December
· Press Trip - Bali Barat – Monday 10 December
· International Press Release – Penguins and Climate Change Report – Press Conference 1230 Tuesday 11 Dec
· Stunt/Photo Opportunity – Penguins on the beach - Tuesday 11 December
· Stunt/Photo Opportunity – Snails pace stunt – Wednesday 12 December
· Closing Statement – Friday 14 December
· Daily Climate Action Network (CAN) Press Briefing – see CCTV announcements for location
Materials for the Media:
Press Pack - All backgrounders, press work, photos, reports etc at <http://www.panda.org/climate.
TV Footage – For broadcast-standard video, please contact the Media Team.
Online - Blog at http://www.panda.org/climate/blog. Global map of climate change impacts at http://www.panda.org/climate/ipcc.
Spokespeople: Hans Verolme, Director, WWF’s Global Climate Change Programme, +1 202 492 7358, . Fitrian Ardiansyah, Director WWF-Indonesia’s Climate Change Programme, +62 812 9355 105, .
Media team: Brian Thomson, WWF International (English, French, Italian) t +62 813 1808 5548, . Martin Hiller, WWF Global Climate Change Programme ( English, German, French) t +62 813 1875 9492, . Elshinta Marsden, WWF-Indonesia, (English, Bahasa Indonesia) t +62 8161806321, . Mariana Ramos, WWF Brazil (Portuguese, English, Spanish) t +62 813 1860 2114 . Soh Koon Chng (English, French), t +62 813 1860 2127