Keeping track of what everyone is demanding from the UN climate summit in Copenhagen this December can be taxing. While governments are busy manoeuvring for negotiations – India recently ruled out any reductions in its emissions – large companies such as GE are calling on politicians to "think of the Copenhagen climate summit in December as an opportunity to create world markets".
Green groups, of course, form a powerful lobbying block of their own. Their demands and agendas are diverse, though, so with the help of the environmental campaigners at Sandbag, we've brought together a list of what they're asking for in Copenhagen.
Both Christian Aid and Greenpeace want Barack Obama and Gordon Brown to be on the ground, driving the negotiations – as it stands, only environment ministers and officials are due to attend. Oxfam's calling on the UK to cough up £1.56bn a year for developing countries to adapt to the ravages of climate change. Tearfund, along with many other groups, demands that the majority of countries' cuts in greenhouse gas emissions be made domestically – rather than farmed out through carbon "credits" and offsets elsewhere in the world.
Two of the most interesting campaigns are Hopenhagen – in effect a UN marketing campaign that hopes to use social media to put public pressure on politicians – and tcktcktck, which invites you to "adopt a negotiator."
One thing unites these NGOs and charities: they're all adamant that reaching a deal is vital to avoid a humanitarian disaster caused by climate change. And because time is running out fast for environmental campaigners to argue their case – there are now just 122 days until the summit opens – you can expect green groups to ratchet up the noise in the coming months.
We'll be following their progress, but let us know here in the comments when you spot any green lobbying that's particularly innovative, realistic or eye-catching.
