Success in Copenhagen

On Saturday I walked through London with many, many thousands of very ordinary people of all ages, backgrounds and beliefs. We were united in our determination that the leaders of all nations, convening in Copenhagen this month, reach an ambitious, effective and fair agreement to prevent dangerous climate change.

This is the defining issue of our time, transcending politics, faith, economic status and all other divisions in society. Success in Copenhagen means rapid and effective reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from all nations. Success in Copenhagen means equitable finance for the poorest nations, most threatened by the growing dangers of an unstable climate. Success in Copenhagen means immediate and comprehensive protection for the few remaining areas of pristine rainforest, peatlands and other biodiversity hotspots around the world, on land and at sea.

Most of all, success in Copenhagen means worldwide action now, to protect the habitability of our children's world and the diversity of life that they would wish to share it with.

The Copenhagen climate conference is the most important global meeting the world has ever seen. In solidarity with all my fellow demonstrators for climate justice, I ask each of the World Leaders gathered in Copenhagen:
Open your hearts and minds to the needs of humanity and of all life on earth.
Do everything in your power to protect climate stability for future generations.
Rise to this challenge and be sure you deliver success in Copenhagen.

Our children and their children, throughout the ages to come, will thank you from the bottom of their hearts.