WASHINGTON, DC (December 8, 2012) At the conclusion of the 18^th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference (COP 18) in Doha, Qatar, BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director David Foster today released a statement on the progress made and the need for further action to address climate change.

At the start of COP 18, BlueGreen Alliance sent this letter urging the United States to take a critical leadership role in advancing global climate change solutions and urged negotiators to take crucial steps forward in reaching an international agreement on a framework for action to reduce emissions.

“The effects of climate change are being felt around the world regardless of borders, ethnicity and class. The human and environmental costs demand world leaders come together to follow through on strategic action that includes establishing a sound emissions reduction regime that keeps planetary warming below the 2-degrees Celsius threshold and a commitment from the US to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions to 85 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.

“A better economy and a safer environment for everyone demand that we take the challenge of climate change head on. Here in the US, that means renewing critical investments in clean technology like the Production Tax Credit for the wind industry for example.

“While progress has been made on a number of issues over the last two weeks in Doha, there’s much more work to do both at home and abroad to meet the goals we’ve set for COP 18 and to reach a global treaty in 2015. The Doha Gateway makes progress on key issues of finance, equity and a global effort on mitigation. Finding a fair solution on these solutions is the only way we can achieve a successful global deal.”