Ecobreves – ARGENTINA: Climate Worries in Mercosur

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

BUENOS AIRES, Dec 22 2007 (IPS) - Environmental organizations in Argentina have called on the countries of Mercosur (Southern Common Market) to consider the implications of climate change as a priority in the bloc's summit meetings. The Climate Change Commission of the Civil Society Consultative Council of the Argentine Foreign Ministry warned the leaders of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela that “the planetary emergency of global warming should be considered when making decisions.”

Commission coordinator Alcira Perlini told Tierramérica that it is the first time Mercosur has received such an appeal on climate change, which, “despite being a crucial matter, is not on the agenda” of the South American bloc, she said.

The request was signed by some 40 organizations that are on the commission and was sent to the president of the Mercosur Commission of Representatives, Argentine Carlos Álvarez, who presented it to the Mercosur member presidents.