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![Bishop Theotonius Gomes of Bangladesh speaks out for climate justice at the UN climate change talks in Poznan, Poland [CAFOD]](/var/storage/images/get-involved/campaigning/climate/images/bishop-gomes/968198-2-eng-GB/bishop-gomes_medium.jpg)
CAFOD congratulates developing countries for leading the way at the UN climate change talks in Poznan - and tells industrialised nations "shame on you" for their stalling tactics
With a weak package announced from Brussels, and with umbrella countries procrastinating on emissions targets decided at Bali one year ago, progress at Poznan looks remote on the final full day of negotiations.
And yet, while the industrialised nations block the path to strong agreement, the developing countries are leading the way with the strength of their proposals and climate change initiatives.
These developing countries are up for negotiating a better and more sustainable future. They are ready and willing. We can get a good deal by Copenhagen 2009
Liz Gallagher, CAFOD climate change policy researcher, says: "Shame on you, industrialised nations. The present state of affairs in Poznan and the EU compromise is a huge disappointment.
"The developing countries have come to Poznan in good faith, they have come to negotiate on an issue that will affect them first and worst, and could impact most severely on their aims for rapid growth.
"And yet, as they bring solid and encouraging proposals to the table, they are meeting a brick wall.
"The industrialised nations aren’t even responding to these proposals, they are wrapped up in financial self-interest. It is shameful."
While Russia shirks emissions targets, China has announced a $600bn stimulus package to help its transition to a low carbon economy by promoting economic restructuring and essential green infrastructure.
While Canada attempts to protect its tar sands industry which could cause runaway climate change, Mexico announced this morning that it has set a specific carbon reduction target - one of the first developing countries to do so.
It pledges to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
As Japan’s delegates try to undermine the scientific recommendations on emissions target ranges, Brazil has set up a $1bn fund to combat deforestation.
When Australia failed to even bring its agreed emissions targets to Poznan, the South Africans set down a concrete proposal on how to make action on climate change measurable and verifiable.
While European countries come to a weak agreement allowing about two-thirds of emissions to be offset abroad, India has committed to ensuring its per capita emissions will not exceed levels recommended by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and has begun the process of setting up centres for the diffusion of climate technology.
Liz Gallagher adds: "These developing countries are up for negotiating a better and more sustainable future. They are ready and willing. We can get a good deal by Copenhagen 2009.
"All that is needed is the political will of the industrialised nations to step up their game."
Former US Vice-President Al Gore also helped take the fight to those who are stalling on the issue, by telling the conference that climate change was a "question of right versus wrong".
The environmentalist told a packed audience: "We need to have the moral courage to do what may seem difficult. It is wrong for this generation to destroy the planet for future generations.
"Our children have a right to hold us to a higher standard than the generations before us. This is not a political issue, it is a moral and spiritual issue."
Liz Gallagher welcomed his comments as helping to lift the spirits of those working tirelessly for a socially just and equitable deal.
She says: "Morality seems to be woefully deficient at these talks - we will work with our sister agencies from across the world to ensure that next year, morality and justice are injected into the negotiations.
"Hope and faith will be an essential prerequisite for any deal in Copenhagen."
Media: Contact (Poznan): Pascale Palmer +44 7785 950 585 ppalmer@cafod.org.uk
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![Bishop Theotonius Gomes of Bangladesh speaks out for climate justice at the UN climate change talks in Poznan, Poland [CAFOD]](/var/storage/images/get-involved/campaigning/climate/images/bishop-gomes/968198-2-eng-GB/bishop-gomes_0column75_nospace_landscape.jpg)