UN Climate talks - Bali Dec 2007

The heat is rising on the Indonesian island of Bali where 10,000 delegates are taking part in the UN climate change talks.

Friends of the Earth is pushing for deeper emissions cuts from industrialised countries - and for a better deal, including more funding, for countries in the developing world.

Negotiations begin

Australia's announcement that it had agreed to ratify the Kyoto Protocol was a good start.

But some countries are reluctant to accept that they have a climate debt to repay. This debt is owed to countries which have done little to contribute to climate change, but which are the most vulnerable.

Rising tides

The islands of Kiribati in the Pacific are just one example.  Rising sea levels have already made it impossible for people on these 33 coral atolls to grow food - the soil is too salty. 

High tides regularly flood roads and gardens - with most of the islands just two to three metres above sea level.

People from Kiribati - in Bali to highlight their plight - have taken their fate into their own hands, planting mangroves to protect their coastline.  They fear this is too little too late.

Forests

Friends of the Earth is in Bali to highlight not just the plight of countries like these, but also to ensure that the proposed solutions don't actually make life worse for millions of people in the developing world.

One key issue, particularly for the host nation Indonesia, is deforestation. 

Twenty per cent of global carbon emissions result from forest loss. But demand for biofuel crops such as palm oil is making this problem worse. 

Millions of people depend on forests to survive. Their rights must be protected alongside the forests in any agreement made.

Indigenous People from the forests were among those who joined the climate march through the city of Denpasar. This was part of the Global Day of Action on Climate Change on Saturday 8 December. 

Balinese dancers and colourful traditional costumes gave the event a carnival theme. But this was a carnival with a difference, sending a strong call for climate justice to people inside the talks.

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