InterAction Viewpoint

Key Outcomes for Copenhagen

Much of the conversation in Copenhagen will focus on emission targets and climate change
financing, both of which are critically important and represent concrete action in the battle
against runaway climate change. Nonetheless, within the debate on dollars and percentages,
InterAction -- the largest alliance of U.S.-based international development and humanitarian
organizations working in the developing world --asks negotiators not to lose sight of the real
lives that will be impacted by these conversations.

Families cannot feed themselves due to lower crop yields, women have to spend more of their
day walking to available water resources, entire communities have to move due to rising seas,
and some communities are trapped in an endless cycle of weather-related disasters. Our
member organizations working within these communities are forced to confront the
consequences of climate change, the development setbacks and humanitarian crises. At the
end of the day, Copenhagen is about people and preserving their ability to have food on the
table, a roof over their head, and the peace of mind to know it will likely all be there tomorrow.

To achieve a successful conclusion in Copenhagen that responds to those most vulnerable to

climate change, the following three actions must be taken:

 A clear commitment on the scale of long-term public finance. The key to advancing
significant adaptation and mitigation actions in developing countries is to mobilize
adequate, predictable, new and additional financial resources over the long-term. The
outcome in Copenhagen must include clear commitments from developed countries on
the scale of long-term public climate finance, and the U.S. should present an offer for
this funding commitment. The World Bank has estimated that developing countries will
need $75-100 billion a year for adaptation over the next four decades, and the
European Union has agreed that total global public finance for both adaptation and
mitigation should be $32-75 billion a year (22-50 billion Euros per year). To avoid
undercutting other key development objectives, financial resources for climate action
should equal the high-end of these estimates and be in addition to official development
assistance. The United States should be prepared to contribute its fair share of the
funding.
  A quickly ramped-up level of short-term or “fast-start” public finance. The U.S. should
build on past appropriations or those currently under consideration by Congress and
commit to a substantially increased level of public climate finance for 2010-2012. In
particular, InterAction believes that the U.S. should commit to at least $3 billion a year
in public climate finance over the next two years, a significant amount of which should
go through channels linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change.

 A commitment to an equitable and accountable new global climate fund. Any new
multilateral climate fund must be driven by the engagement of recipient governments
and citizens, responsive to the needs of vulnerable communities and populations, and
receptive to communities seeking to adopt low-carbon development pathways through
clean energy and reduced deforestation. If Copenhagen results in a new global climate
fund, it must be governed equitably and transparently, with funding provided in a
manner that respects the rights and interests of affected communities and populations,
and ensures their full participation. The impact on rights should be included in
monitoring and reporting, and adaptation finance should be prioritized for the most
vulnerable populations, including women. In addition, a global climate fund should be
under the authority of the UNFCCC in order to ensure that the funding mechanism is
accountable to all parties in the UNFCCC, especially developing countries.

A strong international agreement is the best way to address the severe consequences of
climate change for the poorest and most vulnerable people around the world. Continued
leadership in both the House of Representatives and Senate on comprehensive climate change
legislation will be essential for U.S. participation and leadership. Taking these strong actions in
Copenhagen will be critical to addressing global objectives of security and stability,
development and poverty reduction, and a clean and resilient climate future. Future
generations will thank the United States and world leaders for recognizing and responding to
this time of action.

Contact: In Copenhagen from 12/14-12/18 – Vanessa Dick, vdick@interaction.org or 202-549-

8450

Tawana Jacobs, 202-552-6534 (Office), 202-297-1696 (Cell) or tjacobs@interaction.org

About InterAction: InterAction is the largest alliance U.S.-based nongovernmental international

humanitarian relief and development organizations with more than 180 members. Our
members operate in every developing country, working with local communities to overcome
poverty and suffering by helping to improve their quality of life. www.interaction.org