PRESS STATEMENT

For immediate release

Copenhagen, Brussels, December 16 - Friends of the Earth representatives have been barred from the United Nations climate talks in the Bella Centre in Copenhagen today (Wednesday 16 December 2009). Every delegate from the international environmental campaign group arrived at the centre this morning to find their badges were no longer valid.

Friends of the Earth representatives from countries ranging from Nigeria to Japan and Denmark have been taking part in the negotiations over the past two weeks calling for a strong and fair agreement, with rich countries leading the way with emissions cuts of at least 40 per cent by 2020 without offsetting.

Magda Stoczkiewicz, director of Friends of the Earth Europe said: “It is a crisis of democracy when campaign groups like Friends of the Earth which represents millions of people around the globe are prevented from participating in the talks where we are pushing for a just and effective agreement to the climate crisis.

“If Friends of the Earth is not allowed inside the UN negotiations we cannot play our crucial role in bringing the voices of citizens to the talks, especially the voices of those who are disadvantaged and already suffering most because of climate change. These draconian measures are completely unjustified.

“Friends of the Earth is one of the most prominent groups calling for a strong and fair agreement and we will not be silenced. We continue to pressure rich countries, and especially the European Union to finally commit to deep emissions reductions and its fair share of the urgently needed climate finance for developing countries.”

Friends of the Earth International Chair Nnimmo Bassey had the following statement: "We are surprised and shocked that Friends of the Earth member groups from around the world and other non-governmental organizations have been denied access to the negotiations this morning.

"Our organisations represent millions of people around the world and provide a critical voice for climate justice inside the UN."

Friends of the Earth is petitioning UN climate secretary Yvo De Boer to protest against the ban and calling for members of the public to add their name at www.foe.co.uk

ENDS

For more information and for interviews please contact:

Francesca Gater, communications officer for Friends of the Earth Europe, +45 298 42677 (Danish mobile) or +32 4 85 930 515 (Belgian mobile), francesca.gater foeeurope.org

Sonja Meister, climate campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe, +45 617 27520 (Danish mobile), sonja.meister foeeurope.org

Magda Stoczkiewicz, director of Friends of the Earth Europe, +45 617 22145 (Danish mobile), magda.stoczkiewicz foeeurope.org