Petition to modify the Government’s approach to the Copenhagen Treaty, December, 2009

To: Paul Keetch MP

cc:       Ed Milliband, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (DECC)
          Greg Clark, Conservative Shadow Minister (DECC)
          Simon Hughes, Liberal Shadow Minister (DECC)

We, the undersigned members of the Golden Valley Environment Group and others resident in the area, are very concerned to ensure that the Government’s negotiating position for the Copenhagen Treaty addresses the critical issues arising from the accelerating pace of climate change. 

The Government’s negotiating position at Copenhagen needs to respond to the urgency of the situation and set realistic targets for both the short and long term. The current consensus is that the worst impacts of global warming would be avoided if the Copenhagen Treaty included the following targets:

• limit global warming to 2C above pre - industrial levels by 2050, and

• stabilise the concentration of greenhouse gasses (CHGs) in the atmosphere at 350 ppm (compared to 450 ppm in current policy);

• cut future greenhouse gas (CHG) emissions for developed countries by 95% on 1990 baseline levels by 2050 (compared to 80% in current policy);

• adopt a steeper reduction in GHG emissions targets to 2020 for developed countries by adopting a target of 40% reduction compared to the 30% currently proposed (subject to international negotiation).

Only the government can deal with other governments to negotiate international agreements, which provide equitable solutions to sustain efforts over the long term. In our view, if politicians are brave enough to act the public will support the necessary measures.

The signatories to this petition urge our MP to support these amended targets in the Government’s negotiations at the Copenhagen Treaty.

Signed and sent July 2009