USA-CLIMATE TREATY RALLY Demonstrators call for action on climate change from the U.N.

Record ID: 214824

  • Title: USA-CLIMATE TREATY RALLY Demonstrators call for action on climate change from the U.N.
  • Date: 11th December 2014
  • Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (DECEMBER 10, 2014) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** UNITED NATIONS AND DEMONSTRATION DEMONSTRATORS (SOUNDBITE) (English) CLARA VONDRICH, 350 NYC, SAYING: "Today is the International Human Rights Day and we're here to tell the leaders at the U.N. and around the world that climate change is the number one human rights iss
  • Embargoed: 26th December 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA2N5G9OG1ND6XIBQYLBNGDODV2
  • Story Text: About one hundred demonstrators held a rally outside of the United Nations on Wednesday (December 10) to urge bold action on climate change from world leaders.
    Demonstrators braved cold weather, light snow and wind to make their voices heard.
    Outside the U.N. Clara Vondrich, of the environmental advocacy group 350nyc, said "today is the International Human Rights Day and we're here to tell the leaders at the U.N. and around the world that climate change is the number one human rights issue. There is no other issue that we face today that has as many impacts on the poor, on the disenfranchised, on those around the world that have historically been without. Climate change will exacerbate all of the current challenges and make them much harder to face."
    The rally came as leaders from about 190 nations gathered in Lima, Peru for a U.N-led meeting to try to work out draft elements of a deal to limit rising world greenhouse gas emissions. The deal is due in Paris next year but faces numerous fault lines about what should be included.
    U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is due to visit the talks on Thursday to add momentum.
    Vondrich added, "Scientists say we are about to hit these tipping points of no return on climate. And the fact that negotiators are coming together in Lima is huge and positive. However, we still know we have so far to go. We understand that currently the draft that's being circulated in Lima is one of voluntary commitments, rather than the globe setting a target that all countries can commit to. We're going towards a voluntary regime where each country based on its own political realities will make its own commitments. You know, it's a double-edged sword. You want to achieve what's politically feasible, but you also want to do what the science requires. And right now, we're accomplishing the former but not the later."
    More than 30 organizations were represented at the rally including political, environmental, educational, religious and social justice groups.
    Kevin Murungi of Global Kids said, "This is a coalition that will hold those elected officials feet to the fire so that they can actually get the job done and bring down those carbon emissions."
    Demonstrators also called on Peru's President Ollanta Humala to protect that country's indigenous people and the environment by preventing the destruction of rainforest and ancestral homelands by oil, gas, logging and other agribusiness industries.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register