The biggest climate meeting in history hosted by Denmark, who said that an unmissable opportunity to protect the planet was "within reach." 

"The world is depositing hope with you for a short while in the history of mankind," Liberal Prime Minister told delegates at the opening ceremony of the talks, seeking find an agreement on the first U.N. climate pact in 12 years.

The Danish premier encouraged the negotiators to secure a deal “ambitious, courageous and visionary” over emissions reduction targets and climate aid and added that the leaders should be ready to “act” and “not just to talk.” “Their presence reflects an unprecedented mobilization of political determination to combat climate change,” Rasmussen concluded. 

In the framework of the liberal policies adopted in Barcelona on 24th November during the last ELDR Congress, European liberals called for a global agreement in Copenhagen to:

- Commit developed countries to reduce their emissions by 25-40 per cent of their greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, compared to 1990 and to phase out fossil fuel and industrial greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 with at least 75% of these cuts being achieved domestically; 

- In addition to exiting funds for overseas development, commit developed countries to contribute at least 110 billion euros each year for the period 2013 – 2017 to assist with mitigation and adoption measures in developing countries and to ensure that these funds are invested in green solutions in developing countries in accordance with the principles of the transparency and efficiency; 

- Expand the global carbon trading system to include a larger number of countries, markets and sectors; 

To see the full liberal resolution on Energy and Climate Change, please click here.