On December 16, Friends of the Earth delegates from across the world arrived at the Bella Center in Copenhagen to keep fighting for a strong and just climate deal -- only to find that their passes to the climate negotiations had been barred without advance notice or explanation.
United Nations officials singled out representatives from groups like Friends of the Earth, Avaaz and Via Campesina to ban from the conference center -- groups that are on the front lines of the struggle for climate justice.
We play a crucial role in supporting developing country negotiators who are literally fighting for the survival of their people as they push for strong climate actions. While our Friends of the Earth team will keep up the fight from outside the Bella Center, our limited access severely hinders the capacity of negotiators from poor countries -- who are already tremendously under-resourced -- to advocate for a fair treaty.
The muzzling of civil society voices in climate negotiations must stop now!
Tell the Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, Mr. Yvo de Boer, that the world is watching: limiting the presence of NGOs disadvantages poor countries and hinders efforts to achieve a strong and just outcome.
