Reactions to Secretary Clinton’s Finance Announcement

Posted on 17. Dec, 2009 by Ben Jervey in U.S.A., bits

The NGO world reacts….

Martin Kaiser, Greenpeace International Climate Policy Advisor:

“For the first time the US has publicly stated support for a long-term global funding for developing world adaption and mitigation to climate change. Citing a figure of $100 billion per year by 2020 US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has signlalled that the US position on climate can be moved.

“However, Clinton failed to provided specifics on how much the US would contribute to this fund. Without details regarding how and from where the funds will come, this may  become yet another incentive to increase US offsets.

“The finance announcement today cannot be allowed to paper over or ‘greenwash’ any shortcomings in the final outcome of the Summit. Greenpeace is disappointed that Secretary Clinton failed to announce any increase in US emissions reduction targets. She also continued to resist and duck calls for a legally binding agreement, announcing instead that the US wants an operational accord in Copenhagen and a politically binding agreement in 2010.

“The inadequate US emissions reduction target of 3% by 2020 (at 1990 levels) and continued resistance to support a legally binding agreement remain major blockages to a successful outcome.

“President Obama must deliver both when he arrives on Friday.”

WWF President and CEO Carter Roberts

“Secretary Clinton’s 100 billion dollar surprise breathes new life into the sputtering negotiations. It bridges the needs of the developed and developing worlds and changes the game in these global talks. All that remains is an agreement between the US and China about how they will define transparency, and a commitment by President Obama to make climate legislation his top priority for the new year.”

Mithika Mwenda, coordinator of the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance

“Climate change is already killing people in Africa and this commitment is simply insufficient to tackle the climate crisis. These are not commitments that will break the deadlocked negotiations, just more of the same from an administration that clearly does not understand the scale of the problem.”

KEVIN KNOBLOCH, UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS

“Secretary Clinton’s announcement – to join the effort to raise money
for an international fund – sends the strongest signal yet that the
United States is willing to step up its commitment to getting a deal
here at Copenhagen. This could help break the deadlock that we’ve seen
in these talks over the last 10 days. Her announcement gives ministers
something to work with.

“Countries have been urging the United States to put an emissions target
on the table and contribute funds to help developing countries cope with
climate change. The United States has now done both. President Obama is
unfortunately constrained by pending legislation, which sets a
short-term emissions target that is still too low, but at least is a
start. We also need more clarity on how much of the $100 billion
Secretary Clinton called for will be public financing as opposed to
private sector flows, what share of that public funding the U.S. will
contribute, and where that money would come from.

“We support the United States putting public dollars on the table and
money from the sale of emissions allowance in a cap-and-trade program.
We also support the president’s initiative at the G-20 summit in
Pittsburgh in September to phase out fossil fuel subsidies by 2020.
Funds freed up from elimination of these subsidies should be channeled
to promotion of clean energy technologies, both in developing countries
and in the United States.

“Secretary Clinton has improved the chances for success here in
Copenhagen with her announcement today. President Obama must now come to
Copenhagen prepared to work with other leaders to seal the deal.”

Natural Resources Defense Council President Frances Beinecke

The Secretary has proposed real money to help some of the world’s most vulnerable people and protect forests. It has reenergized the talks here. What’s needed now is a meaningful agreement that delivers effective action on climate change. That means commitments to cut carbon emissions in a clear and transparent way.”

Erich Pica, President of Friends of the Earth U.S

“It’s good to see the United States finally talking about putting longer term funding on the table to solve the climate crisis, but the proposal announced today looks like a shell game. The amount falls far short of what the United Nations says is needed. Inadequate funding will condemn the poorest to languish in poverty while the world suffers from climate chaos. In addition, loans and private investments must not substitute for public money, and it is unclear how much of this package is public.”

JoDee Winterhof, CARE’s vice president for policy and advocacy:

Secretary Clinton’s $100 billion announcement brings new hope — and new momentum — to negotiations that have life-and-death implications for the world’s poorest people. But financing alone is not a silver bullet. It must be coupled with a plan to ensure funding reaches the most vulnerable populations, in a way that gives them full and effective participation. We urge the U.S. and other parties to get that critical work done in these final two days and continue negotiating in good faith.”

Kassie Siegel, director of the Climate Law Institute of the Center for Biological Diversity:

“The U.S. may finally have pledged to help pay for more lifeboats, but without committing to meaningful emissions reductions, President Obama is still steering the Titanic directly toward the iceberg.”

Andy Atkins, Executive Director of Friends of the Earth

The US is finally waking up to its responsibility to provide money for developing countries – but this proposal must be judged on the cold details, rather than warm words.

“The proposed $100 billion fund is well short of UN estimates needed to properly tackle climate change – and too much of this money currently comes from repackaged aid money and a massive expansion of carbon markets.

“This is a dangerous strategy which risks a double whammy of financial and environmental catastrophe.

“To effectively tackle both climate change and poverty, the US should offer significantly higher cuts in emissions in line with what the science demands, and ensure that funding developing countries is new cash from public sources.”

Jeremy Symons, senior vice president, National Wildlife Federation:

“Secretary of State Clinton’s announcement today sets up an important moment for the world that for the first time offers a clear path forward to cut pollution, protect tropical forests and provide humanitarian aid to those in harm’s way.

“As the world’s leaders converge tomorrow, they have an historic opportunity to break through years of stalemate.

“President Obama continues to show his leadership on climate change at every opportunity. His personal engagement is needed now more than ever, and he is coming to Copenhagen at just the right time.”

Tags: adaptation, climate finance, Finance, Hillary Clinton, United States