Philippine Floods Tragic Wake-Up Call

A tropical storm triggered the worst flooding in decades in the capital Manila and nearby provinces. Hundreds of thousands of people have been uprooted by the floods. While individual storms and floods can not be linked to climate change, the science is clear that more frequent and more severe extreme weather events are already and will be an increasing consequence of climate change. In addition, average global warming over pre-industrial levels must be kept well below two degrees Celsius to avoid unacceptable risks of runaway catastrophic climate change.

Hopes for an ambitious climate deal which would help protect the planet from irreversible damage caused by climate change will become very slim unless negotiators at the current UNFCCC talks in Bangkok make significant progress, WWF said.

The UN Climate Summit of heads of state in New York last week has given negotiators a mandate to turn the 170-page draft into an agreeable treaty. This is urgently needed to ensure the survival of vulnerable nations at risk from climate change.

According to WWF  in order to prevent failure in Copenhagen and future climate disasters, negotiators in Bangkok should aim at cutting the UN draft texts by 40% by the middle of the conference and by 85% by the end of the two-week talks.

The main tasks are in the hands of rich countries which need to come up with ambitious reduction targets as well as finance commitments which will help developing countries to adapt to climate change.

WWF is worried about a mismatch between credible leadership in Asia and empty rhetoric in Europe and the United States. While key Asian countries are offering concrete contributions to reach a deal in December, EU and US are emerging as major stumbling blocks.

WWF applauds Japan, China and India for outlining concrete mitigation action and for playing an increasingly constructive role in the negotiations, confirming their determination to become the world's next economic leaders on the basis of a green economy and low carbon growth.

Both developed and developing Asia are finding their way to the top in the world league of climate action. Now industrialized countries and in particular the US has to follow Asia's example, and after missed opportunities in New York and Pittsburgh the talks in Bangkok present the next chance to step up.