Listening to the international call in defense of Mother Earth, the peoples and nations of the world have gathered at this conference to generate different proposals such as this one presented by Working Group No. 10 on the Kyoto Protocol and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction commitments by developed countries:Taking note that this conference was noticeably infused with values such as Harmony with Nature, “Living Well”, and the Rights of Mother Earth; essential values not considered in the Kyoto Protocol,

Being conscious of the fact that climate change is a problem for all and can only be resolved by all, it is not possible to ignore us and our thinking and worldview, as a part of humanity that demands the balance of nature. The equilibrium has been grossly altered primarily by the uncontrolled anthropogenic GHG emissions due to a capitalist development model based on the extraction of fossil fuels,

We reaffirm the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and it is in this context that we demand that developed countries take the lead in combating climate change and its adverse effects,

We note the Kyoto Protocol has established the market mechanisms as one of the ways for developed countries to avoid their domestic GHG emission reduction obligations, and this demands its profound revision. We cannot and must not forget that developed countries adopted this legally binding instrument, nevertheless we alert the world to the fact that these countries’ emissions grew by 11.2% between 1990 and 2007, despite their commitments assumed in the Kyoto Protocol. It is evident that their commitments will be violated,

We deplore the attempts by a group of countries to terminate the Kyoto Protocol, the only legally binding instrument for the specific GHG emission reductions by developed countries,

We reject the intent to compel us to adopt the mis-named “Copenhagen Accord” which allows developed countries to offer insufficient GHG emission reductions based on individual and voluntary commitments, which manifestly and evidently violate the environmental integrity of Mother Earth and transgresses the international legally binding rules set by the Kyoto Protocol,

Aware that the outcome of this Conference will instruct the next UN Climate Change Conference in Mexico,

We, the Peoples and Nations assembled in the city of Cochabamba as defenders of Mother Earth, raise our voice to:

Declare developed countries primarily responsible for the slow death of Planet Earth.

Call on the peoples and civil society of the developed world to demand that their governments respect and comply with their commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.

Denounce the mockery by developed countries in proposing a system under the Copenhagen Accord that, in the way that things occur in nature, would result in an insufficient reduction of GHG emissions, at a maximum of 12-19% by 2020 in reference to 1990 levels. This would be even less if we take into account carbon markets and other legal loopholes, in this way selling our Mother Earth.

It is necessary that at the next UN Climate Change Conference in Mexico, the amendment to the Kyoto Protocol be adopted for its second commitment period from 2013 to 2017 in which developed countries must commit to significant domestic GHG emission reductions of at least 50% in reference to 1990 levels. The emission reductions of developed countries must be achieved domestically, without the use of carbon markets or any other offsetting mechanisms that allows them to avoid the adoption of real measures to reduce emissions.

Any just and effective solution to determine the future GHG emission reductions by developed countries must consider their historic responsibility and climate debt, based on per capita emissions. It must also consider the liberation of atmospheric space needed by developing countries for their growth, the loss of benefits to developing countries reflecting the unavailability of their fair share of atmospheric space, and the damage caused to Mother Earth.

Developed countries’ GHG emission reduction commitments under the Kyoto Protocol must be an adequate contribution towards achieving a limit on global emissions sufficient to return GHG concentrations to well below 300 ppm CO2eq and limit average temperature rise to well below 1°C with a view to returning concentrations and temperatures as close as possible to pre-industrial levels in the longer term. The current pledges under the Copenhagen Accord would lead to a global temperature rise of around 4°C.

The GHG emission reduction commitments must permit the return to the natural equilibrium leading to the environmental integrity necessary for Planet Earth. This requires establishing a target for the group of developed countries and later each country’s individual assignment permitting the comparison of efforts between each one of them, and maintaining the system of the Kyoto Protocol for emission reductions.

The establishment of timely and effective sanctions against developed countries for not meeting their GHG emission reduction commitments could generate funds to compensate for the damage caused to developing countries. This will generate financial resources that do not originate from the carbon market, or the financial obligations currently established by the UNFCCC.

We propose the creation of a Global Council in Defense of Mother Earth as a Control Mechanism, to verify the effective and real compliance of developed countries to their GHG emission reduction commitments, to be led by the least polluting countries, indigenous peoples, rural communities and social organisations.

The United States of America being the only developed country on the planet that has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol and with the sufficient capacity to cause climate change on its own, has a significant responsibility to all nations of the world, including its own people. It must therefore work with the international community by ratifying the Kyoto Protocol, committing itself to respect and fulfil economy wide GHG emission reduction targets.

We demand that the Kyoto Protocol respects the Universal Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and permits their effective participation in voice and vote.

Education policies must create effective mechanisms to combat climate change. This is the reason why we call on world governments to generate massive education actions so that each citizen knows about climate change, and knows which measures to take to combat it.

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