Brown: 'For the planet, there is no plan B'

Mon Oct 19 2009 16:21:19

Gordon Brown is warning of "catastrophe" if action to tackle climate change is not agreed during December's UN talks on global warming.

He was speaking to representatives of 17 countries at the Major Economies Forum, who have convened in London as part of efforts to secure a deal at the UN Summit in Copenhagen in December.

The Prime Minister warned of the economic, human and ecological impact of a failure to cut emissions, and said the costs of failing to address global warming would be greater than the impact of the two world wars and the Great Depression.

With fewer than 50 days to go before the UN talks, Mr Brown warned them that countries were not making progress quickly enough to reach agreement.

He is now calling on leaders to work together to achieve a deal setting out binding targets for rich countries to cut their emissions, action by developing nations and finance to help the poorest countries cope with the impact of climate change.

"We can't afford to fail. If we fail, we pay a heavy price," he said. "For the planet, there is no plan B."

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