MEDIA ADVISORY
Friends of the Earth International
July 14, 2006
G8 TO FEED OIL ADDICTION, FUELLING
CLIMATE CHANGE
BRUSSELS (BELGIUM) / LONDON (UK), 14 July
2006 -- G8 plans to address global energy
security are dirty, dangerous and will
continue to fuel climate change, Friends of
the Earth International warned today on the
eve of the G8 summit taking place in St
Petersburg, Russia [1].
An early draft of the G8 Plan of Action
suggested that world leaders had forgotten
last year’s G8 efforts in Gleneagles to
tackle climate change.
Despite G8 pledges to take action against
climate change, the draft plan currently
includes backwards proposals for major
investment in finding new oil and gas
reserves, for increased oil refining capacity
and for greater reliance on nuclear power.
[2]
Catherine Pearce, Friends of the Earth
International climate campaigner said:
“Last year heads of state at the G8 summit
in Gleneagles recognised the urgent need for
decisive action against climate change whilst
‘eradicating energy poverty’ around the
world. But this action plan is a backward
step which will mean a return to
dinosaur-like dependence of fossil fuels. If
the world’s richest countries are serious
about tackling climate change and energy
security, they must look to the solutions and
heavily invest in energy efficiency and the
clean, renewable energies, which is what most
people want."[3]
Collectively the G8 nations, which represent
just 13 per cent of the world’s population,
are responsible for 45 per cent of the
world’s greenhouse gas emissions.
The G8 summit is expected to reaffirm last
year’s commitments on renewable energies and
energy efficiency as well as “eradicating
energy poverty”. But such laudable plans are
little more than window-dressing in light of
the focus given to triggering investments in
fossil fuel extraction and the use of nuclear
power, Friends of the Earth said.
Jan Kowalzig, Friends of the Earth Europe
climate campaigner said:
"It is unbelievable to see how our leaders
are holding the world in the grip of dirty
energy, feeding our addiction to oil instead
of overcoming our dependence on fossil fuels.
At a time of high oil and gas prices,
political instability in producer countries,
the threat of climate change and rising
mountains of nuclear waste, common sense
dictates cutting energy waste and investing
in renewable energies like solar and wind --
this will ensure a long-term sustainable
energy supply."
Friends of the Earth is particularly
concerned by recent attempts to revive the
nuclear industry despite its economic
failures over the past 50 years [4].
Although European Commission President José
Manuel Barroso, who will attend the G8
summit, has highlighted the need to promote
greenhouse gas reduction and large scale use
of renewable energy, the EU’s own energy
policy is still strongly dominated by
political and financial support for fossil
fuels and nuclear power. EU leaders calling
for more nuclear power at the G8 summit act
against the interests of their citizens, who
do not consider nuclear power a solution to
secure energy supply in the long-term [5].
Over 400,000 Europeans have so far signed a
petition to phase out nuclear power. [6]
Friends of the Earth International wants to
see commitments from the G8 leaders in the
following areas:
1. Global average temperatures must not be
allowed to rise two degree centigrade higher
than pre-industrial levels . To minimise the
risks of warming above two degrees centigrade
global greenhouse gas emissions need to peak
and decline within the next 10-15 years. An
average of two degrees could mean up to five
or six degrees centigrade increase in some
parts of the world. Just 2-3 degrees
centigrade of warming could mean up to 300
million more people will be at risk of
malaria, three billion will face water
shortages and 100 million people will be more
at risk from coastal flooding. We are already
0.6C higher now than pre-industrial
levels.
2. An agreement by G8 nations for specific,
substantial and timetabled cuts in their
domestic emissions of greenhouse gases. G8
leaders must commit themselves to strong
future actions to combat climate change.
These should include increased efforts to
meet Kyoto targets, and a clear signal that
their commitments will increase after 2012
(when the first commitment period of the
Kyoto Protocol is due to end). Crucial talks
on international action to tackle climate
change are scheduled to take place in
Nairobi, Kenya, later this year.
3. An agreement that offers innovative and
substantial financing mechanisms to increase
and diversify the energy mix. This must
include more renewable energy and greater
efforts towards energy efficiency. Broad
economic instruments such as mandatory cap
and trade need to run alongside specific
support mechanisms for renewable energy and
demand reduction. There are clear funding
streams from international institutions and
agencies which, with a strong steer from
governments, can divert greater financial
support to these proven technologies. G8
countries must stop promoting fossil fuel
extraction in developing nations through
international financial institutions such as
the World Bank and export credit agencies and
immediately phase-in public finance for
sustainable clean energy.
4. Urgent assistance is needed for those
developing countries already facing the
devastating effects of climate change. These
are countries which have done nothing to
contribute to the current threat of climate
change. Much is already understood on how
these countries will be affected. Money and
increased support must be given now.
NOTES
[1] Heads of State from France, Italy,
Japan, Germany, Canada, the United Kingdom,
the United States and Russia are meeting
15-17 July 2006 in St Petersburg, Russia.
Energy security is a top item on the agenda
of the summit. See
http://en.g8russia.ru
[2] The draft was made available for the
public by the US based NGO Oil Change
International. See
http://www.priceofoil.org
.
[3] A July 13, 2006 BBC poll found
widespread support for alternative energy
strategies and extensive fear that the
climate and environment are being harmed.
See:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/5170152.stm
[4] Not a single nuclear power plant has
ever been built without direct or indirect
subsidies through taxpayers’ money. And, each
Euro invested in nuclear energy would save
ten times more greenhouse gases if it was
invested in energy efficiency measures
instead. See “Nuclear power: economics and
climate protection potential”: Rocky ountains
Institute; January 2006; available at
http://www.rmi.org
[5] A recent Eurobarometer poll shows the
only 12% of Europeans believe that developing
the use of nuclear energy would give a
satisfactory answer to the current challenges
of security of energy supply, growth of
energy consumption and climate change. See
http://europa.eu.int/comm/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_247_en.pdf
[6] See
http://www.million-against-nuclear.net
Further contacts:
Catherine Pearce, Friends of the Earth
International climate campaigner in the UK,
Tel: + 44 7811 283 641 (mobile)
Jan Kowalzig, Friends of the Earth Europe
climate campaigner in Belgium Tel:
+32-496-384-696 (mobile)
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