As world leaders walk away from the UN climate change talks in Copenhagen (COP15), a watered-down accord was accepted by the Conference of the Parties on Saturday morning. The accord which was largely brokered between the USA, China, South Africa, India & Brazil recognises the scientific necessity of keeping global temperature rises to no more than 2°C, but contains no tangible commitments to reduce emissions to achieve that.

Commenting on the conclusion of UN climate summit in Copenhagen today, the UK based coalition Stop Climate Chaos (SCC), which organised The Wave – the world’s largest demonstration for action on climate change in London, said:

The challenge at Copenhagen was to deliver a new, binding and fair programme of international action to keep global warming as far below the danger threshold of 2 degrees C. There has been a gross failure to achieve this and the fault lies squarely with the industrialised countries. They have not pledged sufficiently deep and rapid cuts in emissions, nor offered enough finance to assist developing countries. Given the threat that humanity and the world’s ecosystems face this is unforgiveable.

It defies comprehension that, confronted by the greatest danger that humanity has ever faced, our political leaders are trying to pass off a dismal, so-called political declaration, as progress. This deal will not prevent catastrophic climate change.

Millions across the globe mobilised to give our leaders a clear mandate to act decisively. Their collective response has been dire and utterly irresponsible. We will not rest until we have pressured our leaders to show the political courage and vision necessary, in the short time left, to pull us back from the brink of disaster.

Speaking on the outcome of the UN summit on climate change in Copenhagen, Mike Robinson, Chair of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland said:

We needed commitments of money, ambitious targets and a legal framework to underpin it all. So far we have none of these. We have a vague promise of half the money that is required by 2020, inadequate targets which the UN has confirmed will add up to a minimum 3°C increase in global temperatures, and no legal framework. What’s worse, we don’t even have a timetable to sort it out. It’s hardly the leadership we had all been hoping for and we have a right to be disappointed.