HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister Gordon Brown determined to reach “legally binding treaty” [December 2009]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 16 December 2009.
Gordon Brown has spoken of the challenges of his role at the Copenhagen climate change summit after initial talks with leaders including UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, but says that he is determined to help bring the 192 nations involved to a consensus.
The PM said he hoped there would be an agreement by the end of the week, and a legally-binding treaty within six months.
Gordon Brown emphasised the importance of the talks both for the UK and for the future of the world’s population, and said that he would use his experience to bring countries together to discuss the various issues involved:
“This deal matters for Britain. I think if we could get a carbon change, then it is worth about half a million jobs to Britain in the longer run, so it is worth it for jobs.
“But I also think our children, growing up, going to school every day, I don’t want them to live in a world of floods, of droughts, of extreme weather.
“It is really important, therefore, for Britain that we get this deal and it is important that I do everything I can in the next few days to make that possible.”
He also spoke specifically about helping developing countries after backing Ethiopian prime minister Meles Zenawi’s proposals that African nations receive funding to tackle global warming:
“You have got island states that are evacuating their people in the next few years unless we do something about it.
“You have got refugees in Africa – climate change refugees for the first time – you have got Bangladesh, which faces floods and the loss of land to sea as a result of what is happening.”
Britain has pledged £1.5 billion over the next three years to help kick start anti-global warming measures.
Later today, Gordon Brown will meet leaders from Bangladesh, Nepal, East Timor, Lesotho, the Maldives and Brazil, as well as attending an EU/African Union meeting.
