UK riders skeptical of climate accord
UK riders returning from a bike ride to the Paris climate conference expressed skepticism last night over the accord reached on Saturday. The cyclists, who spent five days crossing France before reaching the French capital on Thursday, participated in the giant Red Line protest on the Champs Elysées on Saturday, along with 15,000 others.
Cyclist Tania Morey said "This agreement contains no legal requirement to cut emissions. It allows countries to pollute as usual without any sanction."
"The agreement, reached by 193 countries, only requires countries to report targets. These are voluntary. The accord singularly fails to enforce those targets," said Ahmed.
"It allows, for example, David Cameron to continue supporting the fracking industry whilst cutting renewable energy."
The weak agreement demonstrates that local initiatives such as divesting from fossil fuels or energy cooperatives remain the only route to combat climate change. By working together to oppose new fossil fuel infrastructure, nuclear power and the money that funds similar polluting industries, grassroots mobilisations have an opportunity to change the system.
The group joined 150 others riding to Paris, organised by Time to Cycle (http://timetocycle.org/). En route the group was met by various mayors, schoolchildren and members of the public.
Contact:
Duncan Blinkhorn (Time to Cycle/Brighton Climate Action Network) - 07944 152706
Sama Bakr (Time to Cycle / Reclaim the Power) - 07 969 02 8898
Notes for Editors
On 5th December 150 cyclists began a ride to Paris. The spend a night in Brighton, Dieppe, Rouen, Fresneus before arriving in Paris on the 10th December.
The Paris agreement is a voluntary agreement, with no commitment to make cuts. The targets brought to the table by signing states would mean a temperature rise of 2.7 degrees, far above the ambition of 1.5 degrees contained in the text.
Cyclist Tania Morey said "This agreement contains no legal requirement to cut emissions. It allows countries to pollute as usual without any sanction."
"The agreement, reached by 193 countries, only requires countries to report targets. These are voluntary. The accord singularly fails to enforce those targets," said Ahmed.
"It allows, for example, David Cameron to continue supporting the fracking industry whilst cutting renewable energy."
The weak agreement demonstrates that local initiatives such as divesting from fossil fuels or energy cooperatives remain the only route to combat climate change. By working together to oppose new fossil fuel infrastructure, nuclear power and the money that funds similar polluting industries, grassroots mobilisations have an opportunity to change the system.
The group joined 150 others riding to Paris, organised by Time to Cycle (http://timetocycle.org/). En route the group was met by various mayors, schoolchildren and members of the public.
Contact:
Duncan Blinkhorn (Time to Cycle/Brighton Climate Action Network) - 07944 152706
Sama Bakr (Time to Cycle / Reclaim the Power) - 07 969 02 8898
Notes for Editors
On 5th December 150 cyclists began a ride to Paris. The spend a night in Brighton, Dieppe, Rouen, Fresneus before arriving in Paris on the 10th December.
The Paris agreement is a voluntary agreement, with no commitment to make cuts. The targets brought to the table by signing states would mean a temperature rise of 2.7 degrees, far above the ambition of 1.5 degrees contained in the text.
