COP15

Amongst the over 20 targets being discussed at the COP15 Biodiversity Summit is to set aside 30 percent of the world's lands and oceans for nature to protect biodiversity by 2030. However, states have so far failed to commit to protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples and those of local communities living in these areas.

Oxfam welcomed the launch of a new website by the Dutch Minister of the Environment today (faststartfinance.org) which aims to collect and present details about climate finance pledges from developed countries.

Oxfam International criticized today the agreement just reached by the Japanese Cabinet for watering down the country’s responsibility to contribute to global efforts to tackle climate change.

Copenhagen was a unique opportunity to turn the world’s course away from climate disaster, towards a safe future for all of us on this small planet.

The UN climate talks must be rescued from the shambles of Copenhagen by revolutionizing the way the negotiations are carried out so that a deal can be delivered in 2010 and the chaos witnessed in Copenhagen is never repeated, said Oxfam today.

As hopes for a legally binding deal faded in the last negotiating hours of the climate summit, Robert Bailey, Senior spokesperson for Oxfam International said: “It is shameful that after two years of blood, sweat and tears, we didn’t finish the marathon on time.

The ‘climate deal’ on the table in Copenhagen today is a triumph of spin over substance says Oxfam International. The deal – which has been announced by the US, India, China and South Africa - has not been endorsed by the EU and many other countries.

As the US, Ethiopia and European Union coalesce around a climate finance package of $100 billion, Oxfam is calling for rich countries to provide at least $200bn a year in new money to help poor countries adapt to a changing climate and reduce their emissions.

Oxfam International is heartened by Secretary Clinton’s commitment to significant financial resources of $100 billion dollars a year by 2020 to help developing countries weather the negative impacts of climate change.

Gordon Brown has shown today that the UK is still prepared to fight for an agreement that ensures aid budgets are protected. With safeguards against aid raiding absent from the talks of late, it’s encouraging to see this critical issue back on the agenda.