Delays deny the world the justice of climate action

“Determination to rise to the challenge we all face has averted a near victory for the polluters. But the days of accepting compromise as progress is 20 years out of date, and the vulnerable countries held firm. 

“The paralysing delays, bargaining and denial by just a few countries are forcing millions of women, children and men to battle the floods, drought, rising waters and forest fires with limited support – or flee their homes in search of safer ground. They and the rest of the world look to leaders for honest commitments of real action and solutions – not betrayal and insult. 

“To weaken the progress made on such crucial issues as increasing financial support for the loss and damage that the poorest people face on the frontline of the climate crisis is unforgivable.

“Scrapping the progress achieved on agreement of a standard system for measuring climate action and on carbon offsetting undermines years of work to meet the Paris Agreement’s goals. This must be reversed over the coming year. 

“Although some governments – particularly the least developed countries and all of the European Union countries – are rising to the challenge, the United States, Brazil, China, Australia and Saudi Arabia are blocking progress, further delaying the world the justice the Paris Agreement promised.

“It is important that in the final hours the meeting reaffirmed the need for governments to increase their measures to cut emissions and raise ambition to tackle climate change. But it is not enough. 

“This was the meeting for real action. For committed and effective change. For governments to unite and throw away short-term interest in favour of long-term benefit. Instead, it chose the most dangerous path of delay as temperatures continue to rise.”