Tutu demanding climate aid to developing countries

Monday, 14 December 2009 00:00

Copenhagen City Square was filled with people when the South African archbishop and Nobel peace prize laureate Desmond Tutu entered the stage and handed UN Climate Chief Yvo de Boer the 512.894 signatures from the global campaign Countdown to CO2penhagen.

Tutu’s outstanding energy, his characteristic laugh and smiley face inspired us all. And his message to the rich countries was clear. They have a big prize to pay, and need to take responsibility for global warming, Tutu said.

”Hello, rich countries. Wake up! The largest emissions are coming from you. We must make sure the injustice of climate change will end, an injustice where developing countries have to pay for something they did not cause”, Tutu said in his speech.

He also stated that a politically binding agreement in Copenhagen is not enough:

”If we don’t get a legally binding agreement, we will all be losers. Do you want to join the winning side? Let’s work together as one human family and make this world a better place!”

Yvo de Boer expressed his gratefulness to the people who have signed the petition, and stated how important it is that citizens tell world leaders that the need for action is urgent:

”Inside the conference room, we have people who feel threatened by several other crises - financial, industrial and food crises. But Copenhagen is the one chance we got to make this right. And we need your voice. We need you to tell world leaders that we have to reduce emissions by 80 percent in 2050”, de Boer said to the crowd.

Photo: UN Climate Chief Yvo de Boer receives the Countdown to CO2penhagen petition from Nobel laureate Despond Tutu.