In response to today's announcement of the US Government's Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), Heather Coleman, Oxfam America's Climate Change Manager, made the following statement:
"Oxfam praises the United States Government’s commitment to reduce emissions 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025, a critical step forward in transitioning to a clean energy economy. Today’s announcement demonstrates the Administration’s ongoing commitment to provide global leadership on climate change and brings us closer to a global deal in 2015.
"While this contribution does move us closer to the 2-degree pathway, it does not represent the level of ambition needed to avoid catastrophic climate change.
"The US must now shift its attention towards scaling up climate finance with a focus on adaptation, improving the effectiveness and quality of climate finance, and addressing inevitable loss and damage in developing countries.
"Cyclone Pam’s recent destruction in the Pacific is a tragic reminder that the least developed countries – who have contributed almost nothing to the problem of climate change – are suffering the devastating consequences of global inaction.
"Congress must follow-through on the President’s request of $500 million, the first installment towards meeting a pledge of $3 billion over the next four years to the Green Climate Fund, a multilateral trust fund that will assist developing countries as they adapt to the effects of climate change and invest in climate change mitigation."
/ENDS
