PRESS RELEASE 8 SEPTEMBER 2007

APEC Fails
Statements on Climate Declaration by GetUp.org.au and Avaaz.org

Climate campaigners from GetUp.org.au and Avaaz.org, respectively the leading online Australian and global advocacy groups, welcomed the Sydney APEC declaration’s support for the UN-led climate negotiations—but denounced the declaration’s failure to commit to binding, global targets.

GetUp.org.au executive director Brett Solomon:

John Howard’s undermining of Kyoto has not only made APEC a failure, but risks his political future as well.

The people of the planet rightly expected more from their leaders meeting in Sydney this week. Any agreement that does not unequivocally commit to national and international binding targets dramatically fails our region and the globe.

Avaaz.org campaign director Ben Wikler:
Bush was right—APEC is acting more like OPEC. These 21 leaders, with the eyes of the world on them, missed an opportunity to commit to binding climate targets for developed nations.

In failing to move the world economy away from fossil fuels, APEC leaders are turning into fossils themselves.

This week, Avaaz and GetUp members in more than 100 countries have held events calling for climate change targets, including a 144m sq banner unfurled at Bondi Beach and over the Great Barrier Reef. The organisations delivered a 500,000-signature petition to all 21 APEC leaders on Thursday.

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