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media release
27 may 2005
leaked g8 document exposes lack of
commitment to tackling climate change
Fears that the G8 summit in Gleneagles this
July will lack the political will to tackle
global warming increased today, following the
publication of a document purporting to be a
draft G8 communiqué on climate change.
Friends of the Earth International said that
the leaked document is far too weak,
ineffective and lacks urgency.
British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has
promised to put climate change at the top of
the international agenda at this year's G8
summit, which will be chaired by the UK. But
there are concerns that the USA is digging in
its heels and preventing agreement by the
world's richest nations to take the type of
action that is desperately required to tackle
the problem. The publication of a “Draft G8
Text on Climate Change and Sustainable
Energy”, posted on a web site [1], has added
to these concerns.
Friends of the Earth said that the draft
document does not go far enough to deal with
a problem that the UK Government's chief
scientist described as a bigger threat than
international terrorism. The environmental
campaign group said that the rest of the G8
nations (who have all ratified the Kyoto
Protocol) must increase pressure on the
United States (which is alone in not having
ratified).
Friends of the Earth International's climate
campaigner Catherine Pearce said:
"The alarm bells on climate change are
ringing, but the world's richest nations
aren't listening. President Bush is
continuing to block attempts by Tony Blair
for any meaningful international action on
climate change. Fine words are not enough. As
a result, this document appears to be more
about saving face than saving the planet.
"G8 countries represent just 13 per cent of
the world's population, but account for 45
per cent of greenhouse gas emissions. The
time has come for bold policies and global
leadership. Unless they take a lead on this
issue, the impacts of climate change will be
felt for generations to come."
Friends of the Earth's criticisms of the
draft document include:
-
There are no specific targets or
timetables for reducing greenhouse gases
from G8 nations. Without targets or
timetables meaningful actin to tackle the
problem is unlikely;
-
There is no recognition of the major
impact that G8 nations have had - and
continue to have - on climate change. G8
countries are responsible for 64 per cent
of all global emissions since 1800. And the
USA has four per cent of the world's
population, yet it produces around a
quarter of the world's annual greenhouse
gas emissions;
-
There is no mention of the importance
of implementing the international climate
treaty, the Kyoto protocol, which the USA
has refused to sign, or the need for
international action to curb emissions
after 2012, when the first commitment
period under Kyoto ends.
Friends of the Earth's demands for the G8
include:
-
Agreement on the compelling scientific
evidence showing that climate change is
already happening and that urgent action is
now required to substantially reduce
emissions.
-
An agreement by G8 nations for
specific, substantial and timetabled cuts
in their domestic emissions of greenhouse
gases.
-
G8 nations must take radical action at
home in order to reduce the impacts of
climate change, including a change in
consumption patterns and a meaningful
switch to the use of renewable sustainable
energy sources.
-
G8 nations must stop promoting fossil
fuel extraction in developing nations
through international financial
institutions such as the World Bank and
export credit agencies.
-
G8 governments should immediately
phase-in public finance for sustainable
clean energy.
Friends of the Earth also has concerns
about some of the omissions in the draft
communiqué. This includes:
Nuclear power: under item 33 a "Statement on
nuclear power, to be added following
discussions". Nuclear power is not a solution
to climate change – greater attention must be
given to the contribution from
cleaner sustainable energy.
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS): (item 40a)
“agreeing to fund a [$x] collaborative
research programme to determine the viability
of geological carbon dioxide storage in
developing countries”. Friends of the Earth
is concerned that money may be channeled to
CCS when it would be better spent on
renewables.
There are currently only weak commitments to
address the urgent needs of developing
countries already facing dangerous climate
change.
1.
http://carroll.org.uk/post/48#comments
2 Friends of the Earth has welcomed
recognition that International Financial
Institutions (IFIs), like the World Bank, and
Export Credit Agencies have a role to play in
tackling climate change, but easures
suggested are far too weak.
Catherine Pearce: + 44 (0) 20 7566 1723 /
+ 44 (0) 7811 283 641 (m)
Press Office: + 44 (0) 20 7566 1649
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