We are leaving: in rejection of the lack of progress, civil society withdraws...

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This Conference, which should be an important step towards a transition for a sustainable future, is on the way to achieving nothing." With this statement and in an act of solidarity with the 13.2 million people affected by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, Oxfam, Greenpeace, Action Aid, WWF, the International Trade Union Confederation and Friends of the Earth, among other civil society organizations, withdrew today at noon of the Climate Change Conference that has been taking place since November 11 in Warsaw, Poland.

The collective withdrawal occurred with more than 800 delegates and observers from organizations representing civil society returning their Conference credentials and leaving the venue. Winnie Byanyima, executive director of Oxfam International, explains the reasons why they have decided to abandon the negotiations: “Oxfam is withdrawing because governments around the world must know that enough is enough. “Citizens must be aware of the disappointing progress of these negotiations.”

«The stakes are too important to allow governments to make a mockery of these conversations. Climate change has truly dramatic consequences for everyone. Due to climate change, people lose their lives, homes and livelihoods Europe Cell Phone Number List due to floods and typhoons. Climate change is causing more and more people to go hungry because their crops have failed and food prices have skyrocketed. This is happening right now. Without immediate action, the consequences could be even worse tomorrow,” Byanyima said at a press conference in Warsaw after the voluntary departure of several NGOs, social movements and trade unions.



In a joint statement, the organizations have expressed their direct rejection of the lack of political commitment of the governments, highlighting the irresponsible actions of the governments of Japan, Canada and Australia to evade commitments already reached on mitigation. They also warn that the lack of government action has disastrous consequences for women and men, especially those who are in situations of high vulnerability to climate change, as was experienced in the Philippines with the recent catastrophe. In the face of this devastation, it is shameful that developed countries refuse to get involved in a substantial way to repair the global crisis and continue to put the interests of industry above citizens.

For his part, Carlos Zarco, Executive Director of Oxfam Mexico, assures that “The lack of action to confront climate change threatens food security and deepens the vulnerability of communities. There we have the example of Guerrero. It is unacceptable that governments do not react with seriousness and a sense of urgency.

The organizations have clarified that although they are leaving Warsaw, they will return the following year to participate in COP 20, which will take place in November 2014 in Lima, Peru. From now on and with a view to the Conference in Lima, the outgoing parties announce that they will concentrate their actions on strengthening the leadership of civil society so that they demand that their governments formulate proposals that have a real impact on the future of the planet.