COP OUT IN COPENHAGEN “SENDS DEEPLY WORRYING SIGNAL”

COP OUT IN COPENHAGEN “SENDS DEEPLY WORRYING SIGNAL”

SNP politicians have expressed deep concern at the outcome of the UN's Copenhagen climate negotiations and the failure to reach a binding, ambitious and transparent agreement which matches Scotland's ambition on climate change.

SNP Member of the European Parliament Alyn Smith, who has been present in Copenhagen and last weekend took part in the Wave rally in Glasgow, said that the talks outcome could be a step backwards, and the growing rancour from many of the nations involved will make maintaining any momentum much more difficult.

Commenting Mr Smith said:

"After all the sound and fury, there still is no clear total emissions reduction targets for 2020. No robust inspection regime. No detail as to the source of the financing for developing countries. No detail at all really. And not even a pledge to meet the 2 degree target.

"The document "noted" by the UN has no more credibility than if they had all initialled a napkin from the Conference centre cafe.

"This is not good enough. And we in Scotland must not settle for it. It makes it all the more achingly frustrating that Scotland was reduced to a sideshow by the UK government when we could have been front and centre, and who knows, we could not have done worse than this.

"However there is still room for individual countries to set their own targets, to make their own declarations and agreements on this issue. Scotland has shown the lead, and in the days and weeks that come I think there will be a real need to continue the momentum this conference has dissipated.

Mike Weir MP, SNP's Westminster Environment Spokesperson and a member of the Westminster Energy and Climate Change select committee, expressed deep disappointment at the outcome of the summit and said:

“Leaders around the world have spent the last few years telling us that climate change was the major issue facing the world, yet when they had the chance to take concrete action they spectacularly failed to do so.

“The failure to agree a concrete timescale for an agreement, let alone a legally binding agreement on targets sends a very worrying signal to the peoples of the world.

“How many will now conclude that if after all the rhetoric no real action is taken then climate change is perhaps not so urgent? There is now a real danger that the momentum built up will be dissipated and yet more valuable time will be lost.”

Mr Weir also expressed concern that pressure could build up to row back on already agreed measures.

“Given the failure to make real progress there is likely to be pressure for some members of the European Union to scale back the targets already set to reduce emissions. If that happens it could lead to real disaster.”

“It is vital that we redouble efforts to reach a legally binding agreement that will see real reductions in emissions worldwide.”