May 7, 2006-The publication of the IPCC reports leaves no room for doubt. Avoiding dangerous climate change is technologically and economically possible - and beneficial - but the time left to act is short.

Based on the best available scientific evidence, CAN thinks that avoiding dangerous climate change can be defined as keeping global average temperatures as far below 2°C as possible, compared with preindustrial levels. For this to be achieved, global emissions will need to peak by the middle of the next decade and begin to decline thereafter. A delay in action of only 5 to 10 years will require much greater rates of emission reductions later to achieve the same target, at significantly higher cost.

In light of their common commitment under Article 2 of the Convention, CAN therefore calls upon all countries to adopt the common objective of keeping global temperature increases as far below 2ºC as possible as the basis for future national and global action. The post 2012 agreement must be designed to support countries to embark on emissions pathways consistent with this goal. The IPCC report makes clear that global emissions must peak before 2015 in order to be consistent with this goal.

The priority for this 26th Meeting of the Subsidiary Bodies must be to make real and substantive progress on all of its agenda items preparing draft decisions on the Bali Mandate for the post 2012 negotiations. In order to avoid a gap between the first and second commitment periods, these negotiations must be completed in 2009.

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