Mexico convenes Ministers in private to discuss secret text at UN climate talks

Reports of a secret Mexican text that would replace the Kyoto Protocol with an agreement based upon the Copenhagen Accord have emerged from inside the UN climate negotiations today (3 December).

The draft text would lock the world into to a rise in global temperatures of up to five degrees C and effectively kill off the Kyoto protocol.

Duncan McLaren, Chief Executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “For all its failings, the Kyoto Protocol is the only instrument that offers even a sniff of justice for the poor nations most threatened by climate change.

“Replacing it with a deal based on the weak and illegitimate Copenhagen Accord would deal a devastating blow to hopes for climate justice in Cancun.”

Friends of the Earth Scotland understands that the Mexican Government will table a draft text at a meeting of Ministers from selected countries on Saturday. It is not known which countries have been selected, only that Bolivia is not one of them.

Friends of the Earth International’s Climate Campaigner Asad Rehman said:

“A new and weak Mexican text could hit Cancun like a category five hurricane – leaving only the rubble of a strong and fair international agreement to tackle climate change in its wake.

“The Mexicans should have learnt from the Danish hosts in Copenhagen that secret backroom deals and shady gatherings of ministers will not create a constructive atmosphere for progress – just deep feelings of ill-will.

“The Mexican government would make better use of their time ensuring a fair and open process of negotiation moving forward that ensures rich countries commit to a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol and cut their domestic emissions by at least 40% by 2020.”

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact:

Per Fischer, Press Office, Friends of the Earth Scotland t: 0131 243 2715 e: pfischer@foe-scotland.org.uk

Notes to Editors

Friends of the Earth Scotland exists to help people in Scotland look after the planet for everyone’s future. We think globally and act locally in Scotland, delivering solutions to climate change by enabling and empowering people to take both individual and collective action. We offer help to people with the big things in life – helping to sustain a healthy society and environment. We believe that all of our children’s futures will be better because of what we do. www.foe-scotland.org.uk