Oxfam joins civil society walk out from climate change talks in Warsaw

Explaining Oxfam’s decision to join civil society movements and trade unions in walking out of the UN climate change talks today, Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of Oxfam International said:

“Oxfam is walking out of these talks because governments need to know enough is enough. People around the globe have a right to know about the desperate state of these negotiations.

“The stakes are too high to allow governments to make a mockery of these talks. Climate change means real and harmful impacts on people right around the globe. It means people losing their lives, homes and livelihoods in floods and typhoons. It means people going hungry because crops have failed and food prices have sky rocketed. This is happening today - without action there will be worse to come tomorrow.

“We must demand action together - without this pressure our governments will simply not deliver what is needed.”

“Government’s primary responsibility is the security of their people. They are failing in this responsibility. They must draw a line under the Warsaw talks and come back in 2014 ready for meaningful discussions on how they will deliver their share of the emissions reductions which scientists say are needed and their share of the money needed to help the poorest and most vulnerable countries adapt.”