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The Climate Group supports Tony Blair’s new climate change initiative: Breaking the Climate Deadlock
Press Release
March 14, 2008
Former UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has today announced a major new climate change initiative: Breaking the Climate Deadlock – achieving a global deal on climate change. The °Climate Group - an independent, not-for-profit organisation working internationally with government and business leaders - is providing strategic international support for this new initiative. The announcement was made as the fourth and final Ministerial Meeting of the G8 Gleneagles Dialogue on Climate Change, Clean Energy and Sustainable Development, begins in Japan.
The focus of Breaking the Climate Deadlock will be on a set of key countries and regions fundamental to a successful global deal, including the USA, the European Union, Japan, India and China. To succeed, the initiative has to develop and gain major political support for a framework for an international agreement by 2009 and implementation strategies that will result in greenhouse gas emissions reductions consistent with the levels suggested as necessary by the scientific community.
There is a real risk that current governmental disagreements – both philosophical and practical - between and among developed and developing nations will delay achieving a comprehensive and effective long-term international agreement on how to deal with global climate change. Tony Blair has engaged The °Climate Group to prepare reports, convene a political advisory and expert group and develop and implement an engagement strategy. The project’s goal is to build widespread political and business support for a robust and ambitious international agreement that guarantees climate security while enabling countries to meet their economic, social and environmental goals.
Most importantly, Breaking the Climate Deadlock firmly supports the ongoing UN negotiations and leadership by the G8 and – rather than becoming a parallel process – seeks to add impetus to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It will inject a new political momentum in support of the formal G8 and UNFCCC processes designed to broker a new global climate deal.
Tony Blair, former UK Prime Minister, says: “It is the key long term challenge but the need for action is now. This is urgent. And it can’t be done except by global action across the developed and developing world. The evidence is clear. The will to act is there to a greater degree than ever before. Now the imperative is to shape the framework for a global deal which includes all the major countries to let that be done.
“I’m delighted The °Climate Group, who have such a strong reputation in the field, have assembled such a distinguished panel of experts to undertake this work.”
Dr Steve Howard, CEO, The °Climate Group, says: “We welcome Tony Blair’s continued leadership on climate change, building on his bold move in first tabling climate change as an issue at Gleneagles. There is a window of opportunity, if we forge the right international agreement, for us to do the best deal for the planet and unlock an era of low carbon prosperity.”
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For further information please contact:
Tom Howard-Vyse, Head of Media, Europe
TEL: +44 (0)207 960 2991
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Read select press coverage of the announcement
> The Guardian
> International Herald Tribune
> Reuters UK
> AFP
Download the release [DOC]
Download the release [PDF]
Watch Tony Blair announce the initiative here
Listen to Dr. Steve Howard on the initiative
Comments
Stuart Singleton-White | Fri, March 14, 2008 - 1:29 pm
This is a hugely important initiative and one that could really help to create the political conditions needed for a global deal on climate change. Its success is vital. I wish you the best of luck.
Stuart
Shuchi | Thu, March 27, 2008 - 8:44 am
I think this is a great opportunity as well as a very positive lead step for The Climate Group. I would like to see how this added impetus effects the ongoing negotiations by the UN and if that much spoken about long -term international agreement comes into effect in the near future.
Would love to read further articles and opinions on the topic.
All the best!
Shuchi
Dr Julian E Salt | Mon, March 31, 2008 - 3:04 pm
All you need to do to solve the climate problem is adopt the Contraction & Convergence principle espoused by the Global Commons Institute. In a stroke all the politics would be resolved -saving countless time and many meetings.
I have personally tracked the climate talks since INC-V in New york in 1992 and have virtually given up with the UNFCCC process as it is moribund and self-serving. C+C would override all this overnight.
Regards
Julian E Salt