CIDSE and Caritas Internationalis, the world's largest alliance of aid and development agencies, say the proposed‘Copenhagen Accord’ is a weak and morally reprehensible deal which will spell disaster for millions of the world’s poorest people.

“People in developing countries are already struggling with the effects of climate change. We only have a short window of opportunity to prevent even worse to come. The deal put forward in Copenhagen fails to provide the commitments that the science says is required. Millions of people are now fighting to keep their heads above water while political leaders stall’, said Niamh Garvey of CIDSE member Trócaire/Caritas Ireland from the Bella Center.

“It suggests an unambitious non-binding agreement that sees countries set their own individual targets based on what is considered economically and politically viable rather than what is required by science and justice,” she said.

While countries expressed a willingness to continue working, the proposed deal itself presents no clear time line for concluding a fair ambitious and legally binding agreement in the coming months.

Over the last decade, a lack of political will has hamstrung international efforts to tackle climate change whilst the impacts in developing countries have become increasingly severe.

‘It is inconceivable that with more than 100 world leaders gathered together in one room to make a pact to solve a global problem, they have failed to commit themselves to adequate and binding obligations, said CIDSE Secretary General Bernd Nilles.

“They can call it an historical accord, a declaration, whatever they like. The reality is that leaders have failed to deliver a concrete and effective solution; they have passed up this historical opportunity to set a clear and collective pathway to a sustainable future,” Nilles added.

The networks say the blame lies squarely at the feet of developed countries. Scientific evidence and economic analysis clearly sets out what is required from industrialised nations in terms of emissions reductions and support for developing countries, and they failed to produce the goods.

"Leaders may be lagging behind, but the level of commitment shown by people from all over the world in the run up to Copenhagen has shown unequivocally that the public is firmly behind a strong climate change deal. Leaders must now set a firm deadline for coming to a comprehensive and binding agreement as soon as possible in the coming months, and we’ll be watching them every step of the way,” said Lesley Anne Knight, Secretary General of Caritas Internationalis.

CIDSE and Caritas believe the world must accept nothing less than a fair, ambitious and legally binding agreement which commits developed countries to greenhouse gas emissions cuts of more than 40% by 2020 –based on 1990 levels. The alliance also wants to see wealthy nations provide $195 billion in funding by 2020 – on top of existing aid commitments - to help developing countries harness green technologies and protect themselves from the worst impacts of climate change.

Contact Patrick Nicholson - nicholson@caritas.va - 0039 3343590700

Roeland Scholtalbers – scholtalbers@cidse.org - +32478962013