Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 02/2009

Climate, Poverty, and Justice: What the Poznan UN climate conference needs to deliver for a fair and effective global deal

December 2008

Oxfam Publishing

Abstract

Climate change is the number one threat to human development. Yet progress towards limiting global warming to below 2°C has not been sufficient.

The global effort required to reduce emissions and support the poorest and most vulnerable people to adapt to unavoidable changes must be based on objective indicators of countries' historic responsibilities for causing the crisis, and their capabilities to confront it.

The Poznan climate talks must mark a turning point in international negotiations, switching from analysis and discussion to full negotiation mode. For the sake of people and the planet there is no more time to lose.