climate change

The European Commission unveiled today its vision for Europe’s climate and energy policies from now to 2030.

Commenting on the failure of EU Energy Ministers to reach agreement on EU biofuel policy today, Marc Olivier Herman, Oxfam’s biofuels expert said:

If Europe were to rule out its support of biofuels by 2020, the region could lower its net imports of grain and oilseeds by up to 27 million tons, remarkably reducing its dependence on foreign goods. Global food prices could also drop significantly.

Typhoon Haiyan not only killed thousands across the Philippines and made millions homeless.

Despite widespread destruction and massive logistical obstacles in the wake of the Philippines typhoon, fast action backed by generous international support and the solidarity of local people has helped millions of people survive and prevented any major outbreak of disease.

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:

Around the world, devastation caused by climate-related events is growing, forcing people from their homes, bringing poverty on top of poverty and increasing hunger. For Oxfam, this is an issue of justice: those living in poverty are the hardest hit by climate change despite being the least responsible for the crisis. It's time to act now.

Speaking on the second day of the United Nations Climate Change talks in Warsaw Kelly Dent, Oxfam’s spokesperson said;

As the COP19 climate talks start, poor countries are being left with little idea about what money is available to help them cope with climate change because of murky accounting and a lack of transparency by rich countries.

Today European Finance Ministers agreed their common position for the United Nations COP 19