Press releases

For the past year we have all operated under the hangover of Copenhagen: the disappointment, suspicion, scepticism and disorientation. And while there was so much more that could have been accomplished at Cancun, the other side of these talks is a better place to be.

The international community needs to act to prevent another Christmas massacre and the almost daily killing sprees by the most brutal and long-running rebel group in Africa said aid agencies in a new report released today.

After this week’s protests following the announcement of the results from the first round of the Presidential elections, Saturday and Sunday have been relatively calm.

UN climate talks are off the life-support machine, following a last-minute agreement that gives the Kyoto Protocol a lifeline. It establishes a global Climate Fund and, while falling short of the emissions cuts needed, lays out a path to move towards them.

National self-interest and brinkmanship must not be allowed to sabotage the Cancun climate talks and risk reversing the progress made over the past two weeks, warned Oxfam on the penultimate day of the increasingly volatile Summit.

Oxfam response to the Finance section in the LCA text, which Ministers in Cancun are debating today:
 

Responding to the latest finance text that came out today, international climate change policy adviser Tim Gore said:
 

Ministers speaking for the first time this afternoon at the High Level segment at the UN climate talks in Cancun must show political leadership to ensure key agreements are made by the end of the week.

Halfway through the Cancun climate talks, negotiators have an opportunity to make real progress on a fair global climate fund and climate finance, said Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and Honorary President of Oxfam.

Oxfam and the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) announced they are seeking $28 million from public and private investors for their ground-breaking five-year partnership to help poor rural people protect their crops and livelihoods from the impact of climate change.