WWF: Climate talks need to speed up and mind the gap | WPN World People News

UN climate talks need to speed up and start addressing difficult issues like finance and emissions cuts, ensuring that outcomes will match what scientists tell us is necessary to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

Negotiators at the UN Climate Talks

Samantha Smith, leader of WWF’s Global Climate and Energy Initiative, said: “Progress in Bonn has been slow, but a bigger concern is the growing gap between what is needed and what is being promised on finance and emissions. While much work remains to close that gap, there is hope that governments are finally committed to take more action on emissions prior to 2020.

“What happened here in Bonn was big. After difficult negotiations, all countries have said that more ambitious, immediate emissions cuts are needed and these commitments must be a clear outcome of the Paris talks. However, that work needs to speed up too if we are going to avoid the very worst impacts of climate change.”

“We are pleased to see that the technical discussions on REDD+, to reduce emissions from forests have concluded. Now the focus has to shift to implementation and it must be included in the new climate agreement.”

Pierre Cannet, head of climate and energy programme at WWF-France said, “As the incoming COP Presidency, France has the duty to ensure the discussions move to the political level where the difficult decisions must be made. There will be no "Paris alliance" if we delay ambition for five more years."

Source: World Wildlife Fund