Friends of the Earth International
December 15, 2007
BALI (INDONESIA) December 15, 2007 – Negotiators reached a deal in Bali today (Saturday) on taking forward the Kyoto Protocol but Friends of the Earth International expressed deep disappointment at the weak content following many attempts to derail the talks by the some delegations.
But the European Union, Australia and developing countries stood their ground on the need to include an agreement in a united front that emissions cuts should be in the range of 25 - 40 per cent, as demanded by climate scientists. This provides some indication of ambition but still leaves a lot of work to be done.
Friends of the Earth International Climate Coordinator Stephanie Long said:
“Ministers from some industrialised countries meeting in Bali have let down the people of the world. They reached agreement on a way forward, but with little to guide them along the way. Future talks will now face a serious uphill battle to reach a strong agreement by the end of 2009.
“Around the world millions of people are already suffering the effects of climate change. People outside the talks have sent a strong message demanding climate justice. This message must no longer fall on deaf ears. We only have two years to build on this weak outcome and develop a just deal which ensures tough action from industrialised countries and assistance for people in the developing world.”
Delegations from the United States and Japan, supported by Canada, earlier in the talks shot down strong developing country proposals on financing the transfer of technology. The rest of the industrialised countries failed to reign in the destructive behaviour of these three countries, which has led to compromised deal.
The deal does include an agreement on the Adaptation Fund which will begin to deliver funds for developing countries to deal with the impacts of climate change, and an agreement to review how industrialised countries will meet emissions reduction targets in the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol.
The limitations of the deal includes:
WALHI/ Friends of the Earth Indonesia Deputy Director Farah Sofa said:
“The major success of these UN climate talks in Bali has been to make the first major step toward building a global movement for climate justice. WALHI remains committed to raising the voices of the people and ultimately it is the people that will judge the quality of our leaders. These voices must be heard.”
Meena Raman (English and Malay),Friends of the Earth International Chair + 60 1243 00042
Tony Juniper, Friends of the Earth International Vice Chair (English, only Dec.9-14) + 44 7712 843207
Stephanie Long (English), Friends of the Earth International Climate coordinator + 62 813 38968812
Joseph Zacune (English, Swedish and Spanish), Friends of the Earth International Climate coordinator + 62 813 38969955
Helen Burley (English, French) +62 813 38969937
Farah Sofa (known as Ovi), Deputy Director of WALHI (Friends of the Earth Indonesia) Indonesian mobile number: +62.811.194773
Fay, Walhi (Friends of the Earth Indonesia) media officer +62 815 8070717
Elizabeth Bast, Friends of the Earth USA (English, Spanish) + 62 813 38969958
Robin Webster, Friends of the Earth England, Wales and N. Ireland + 62 813 38969983
Jens Nielsen, Friends of the Earth Netherlands (English, Dutch) + 62 813 38969978
Sonja Meister, Friends of the Earth Europe (English, German) + 62 813 38969974
Yuri Onodera, Friends of the Earth Japan (English and Japanese) + 81 90 96834747
Antje von Brook, Friends of the Earth Germany (German and English) + 62 813 38968865
Gerhard Timm, Friends of the Earth Germany (German and English) + 62 813 38969966
Jens Karg, Friends of the Earth Austria (English, German) + 62 813 38968866
PRESS RELEASE
14 December 2007
BALI (INDONESIA), 14 December 2007 - Peoples from social organizations and movements from across the globe brought the fight for social, ecological and gender justice into the negotiating rooms and onto the streets during the UN climate summit in Bali. [1]
Inside and outside the convention centre, activists demanded alternative policies and practices that protect livelihoods and the environment.
In dozens of side events, reports, impromptu protests and press conferences, the false solutions to climate change - such as carbon offsetting, carbon trading for forests, agrofuels, trade liberalization and privatization pushed by governments, financial institutions and multinational corporations - have been exposed.
Affected communities, Indigenous Peoples, women and peasant farmers called for real solutions to the climate crisis, solutions which have failed to capture the attention of political leaders. These genuine solutions include:
Inside the negotiations, the rich industrialized countries have put unjustifiable pressure on Southern governments to commit to emissions' reductions. At the same time, they have refused to live up to their own legal and moral obligations to radically cut emissions and support developing countries' efforts to reduce emissions and adapt to climate impacts. Once again, the majority world is being forced to pay for the excesses of the minority.
Compared to the outcomes of the official negotiations, the major success of Bali is the momentum that has been built towards creating a diverse, global movement for climate justice.
We will take our struggle forward not just in the talks, but on the ground and in the streets - Climate Justice Now!
Notes
[1] Many social movements and groups that came together in Bali have agreed to establish a coalition called Climate Justice Now! in order to enhance exchange of information and cooperation among themselves and with other groups with the aim of intensifying actions to prevent and respond to climate change. Justice must be at the heart of tackling climate change, and must in no way be sacrificed.
Members of this coalition include:
Carbon Trade Watch, Transnational Institute; Center for Environmental Concerns; Focus on the Global South; Freedom from Debt Coalition, Philippines; Friends of the Earth International; Gendercc - Women for Climate Justice, Global Forest Coalition; Global Justice Ecology Project; International Forum on Globalization; Kalikasan-Peoples Network for the Environment (Kalikasan-PNE); La Via Campesina; Members of the Durban Group for Climate Justice; Oilwatch; Pacific Indigenous Peoples Environment Coalition, Aotearoa/New Zealand; Sustainable Energy and Economy Network; The Indigenous Environmental Network; Third World Network; WALHI/ Friends of the Earth Indonesia; World Development Movement, World Rainforest Movement
International press contacts:
Walden Bello, Focus on the Global South. Mobile: +62 852 387 14793 or +66 81 935 0633
Henry Saragih, La Via Campesina. Mobile: +62 816344441
Joseph Zacune, Friends of the Earth International. Mobile: +62 81 338969955
Tamra Gilbertson, TNI +62 8174779110
Sandy Gauntlett, Global Forest Coalition. Mobile: +62 81 338938574
Janet Redmann, Sustainable Energy and Economy Network. Mobile +81 338984882
Dr. Michael Dorsey. Mobile +62 81 338 950482 or +1734 945 6424
Indonesian press contacts:
Farah Sofa, WALHI/ Friends of the Earth Indonesia. Mobile: +62 81 1194773
MEDIA ADVISORY
Friends of the Earth International
Thursday 13 December
BALI (INDONESIA), December 13, 2007 -- The United States’ administration was today (Thursday) accused of seeking to derail progress at the United Nations climate talks in Bali, with a series of moves designed to create a deal with no content.
Talks in Bali aimed at taking forward the international agreement on climate change to cut greenhouse gas emissions are currently faltering, with the US negotiators obstructing a pre-agreed aim to include a range of emission reduction cuts of 25 – 40 % for industrialised countries.
Additionally, the US administration is attempting to gut the substance of the negotiations by blocking and stalling on key points for developing countries, including:
The United States administration claims to want to take action on climate change. But in the name of not "starting out with a predetermined answer," the US government is blocking discussions on key issues under the UN process.
Elizabeth Bast, International Policy Analyst with Friends of the Earth US said:
"The US government is completely out of touch with public opinion that strongly supports action to tackle climate change. Many parts of the world, including in the United States, are already suffering from the impacts of climate change, and we need a strong international agreement to ensure action is taken to prevent these impacts from getting worse. The Bush administration is not representing the US people, their interests, or even the long-term interests of the US economy in blocking these talks."
If the United States administration truly wants to see international agreement on a way forward on climate change:
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Elizabeth Bast, Friends of the Earth US. Tel: + 62 813 38969958 (Indonesian mobile number valid until Dec. 14 only) or email ebast@foe.org
Tony Juniper, Friends of the Earth International Vice Chair, + 62 813 389 699 65 (Indonesian mobile number valid until Dec. 14 only)
PRESS OFFICERS:
Niccolo Sarno (Friends of the Earth International media coordinator) Tel: +62 813 38969973 (Indonesian mobile number valid until Dec. 14 only)
Helen Burley (Friends of the Earth International media officer) Tel: +62 813 38969937 (Indonesian mobile number valid until Dec. 14 only)
]]>
Media Advisory
Wednesday 12th December 2007
BALI, 12 Dec: Friends of the Earth International today warned Ministers arriving at the UN climate talks in Bali that they have a huge task ahead at these talks if they are to be deemed a success.
Ministers must seriously reassess the consequences for the future viability of the post 2012 Kyoto commitment period if they fail to agree on key issues. Ministers must be prepared to shift on major issues, with agreement needed on a strong target range for Annex I reductions and commitments needed for resources to tackle climate change in the developing world, both in terms of adaptation and the means to build low carbon economies.
Progress in the talks has been hampered until now by the low level of commitment from key industrialised countries, which have failed to deliver on their existing obligations to pay for adaptation, technology co-operation and to support forest conservation in developing countries.
Friends of the Earth International Climate Campaign Coordinator Stephanie Long said:
“We came to Bali with high expectations that industrialised countries would take the lead here and meet their historical obligations as outlined in the UN Convention and the Protocol. All we have seen so far are empty agreements that will not lead to adequate real action to deal with climate change. The Ministers must live up to their commitments - promising to deliver only if developing countries do more is unacceptable and cannot be justified.”
Japan, Canada and the United States have deliberately set out to sabotage these talks, presenting proposals that are certain to fail, including removing all text on future Annex I emissions reductions. Some proposals, for example Canada’s insistence that developing countries take on legally binding emission reductions goals, have set out to provoke anger.
The United States has also openly declared that it will not support a multi-lateral technology transfer fund and appears to be trying to shift anything of substance out of the UNFCCC decisions into voluntary processes such as the ‘Major Emitters Meeting’.
Friends of the Earth International Chair Meena Raman said: “The rich countries are using their existing obligations as bargaining chips to push developing countries to discuss future emissions cuts. This is outrageous. Wealthy nations – which have benefited most from pollution - must take the lead by first fulfilling their responsibilities. It is painfully clear that climate change is already affecting the most vulnerable communities in the developing world. This issue must be addressed if the Kyoto negotiations are to move forward in good faith.”
Friends of the Earth International believes that the following additional commitments are required to ensure a meaningful and genuine Bali Mandate to work towards the post 2012 agreement:
Talks on the technology transfer fund and facility have stalled with the USA, seemingly backed by the other Umbrella countries (Japan, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand), opposing the establishment of a multi-lateral fund. This issue could be carried over to 2008 unless Ministers agree in principle to the fund and begin negotiating terms of reference for the mechanism.
Agreement was reached on the Protocol Adaptation Fund, with developing countries compromising and allowing the Global Environment Facility to at least temporarily manage this. This puts the onus on industrialised countries to ensure new sources of funding, other than the levy on the CDM, to dramatically increase the amount of money funneled into the Adaptation Fund, with the UNDP estimating 86 billion US dollars needed per year.
Agreement was reached on the workplan for continuing negotiations on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation in Developing Countries. A glaring gap in the text is the absence of support for Indigenous Peoples' rights. Forest protection programmes must uphold the land rights of Indigenous peoples and other local communities who often have the best understanding of how to conserve forest. This issue is complex and solutions cannot be rushed. Action can, however, be taken right away by building on existing mechanisms such as the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Discussions on emissions reductions have been happening under the Ad-hoc Working Group under the Protocol, where Japan and Canada have been blocking by the inclusion of any targets. The latest science now demands that emissions reduction commitments of at least 40% on 1990 levels by 2020 for industralised countries. The Ministers must officially recognise the need to peak emissions globally within the next decade.
Stephanie Long, International Climate Coordinator + 62 (0) 813 389 68812
Tony Juniper, Friends of the Earth International Vice Chair + 62 (0) 813 389 699 65 (Indonesian number valid until Dec. 14 only)
Meena Raman, Friends of the Earth International Chairperson + 62 (0) 813 3896 9970 (Indonesian number valid until Dec. 14 only)
Niccolo Sarno, Friends of the Earth International Media Coordinator +62-813-389-69973 (Indonesian number valid until Dec. 14 only)
Helen Burley, Friends of the Earth International Media Officer +62-813-389-69937 (Indonesian number valid until Dec. 14 only)
]]>December 11, 2007
BALI (INDONESIA), December 11, 2007 -- Peoples from all over the globe took part in the Solidarity Village for a Cool Planet, an initiative from different social organizations and movements fighting against ecological and social injustice and working for alternatives to the policies and practices that destroy livelihoods and the environment.
In the past four days affected communities, Indigenous Peoples, women and peasants have given testimony on their direct experiences of climate change, including floods, fires, drought, food insecurity, displacement and impoverishment.
Participants of the Village exposed the false solutions to climate change proposed by international financial institutions, governments and the big corporations, such as agro-fuels, offsetting, and carbon trading. Speakers highlighted the failure of carbon trading to reduce overall emissions and exposed the cynical way it has been used by polluters to profit from their pollution.
Given the poor record of market solutions, and the tremendous influence of corporations inside the negotiations, the participants are deeply concerned about the direction the Bali talks are taking.
People from across the planet – from the Pacific to the Atlantic – also spoke of real solutions, such as local energy sovereignty, replacing high carbon emitting industrial agriculture with small scale sustainable farming and food sovereignty, reducing the distance between working and living,radically changing current production and consumption patters, regaining control over resources, including forests, land, and water and reclaiming the peoples’ sovereignty.
Throughout the four days, speakers emphasized that climate change is the result of the over-consumption and destruction of fossil fuels and other natural resources, unsustainable production and consumption patters, excessive lifestyles, particularly in the North, and destructive policies such as trade liberalization and privatisation.
The unifying spirit of the Solidarity Village for a Cool Planet is the call for Climate Justice. By this we understand that countries and sectors that have contributed the most to the climate crisis - the rich countries and transnational corporations of the North - must pay the cost of ensuring that all peoples and future generations can live in a healthy and just world, respecting the ecological limits of the planet.
In Bali, we took another step towards building a global movement for climate justice.
The Solidarity Village for a Cool Planet (6-10 December 2007) was organized by The Indonesian People's Movement Against Neo-colonialism and Imperialism (GERAK LAWAN); The Indonesian Peasant's Union/ SPI, Indonesian Human Rights Committee for Social Justice/ IHCS, Indonesian Anti Debt Coalition/ KAU, LS ADI, Federation of Trade Union Jakarta/ FSBJ, KAM LAKSI, Indonesian Youth Front Struggle/ FPPI, KMAI, SHI, Women Solidarity/ SP, WALHI/ Friends of the Earth Indonesia, and Institute for Global Justice/ IGJ together, Indonesian Workers Unions (SBI) with La Via Campesina, Friends of the Earth International; Focus on the Global South, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), Migrant Forum in Asia, ATTAC Japan, Stop the New Round Coalition Philippines, Kilusang Mangingisda (Fisherfolk Movement-Philippines); Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU); Globalization Monitor, Hong Kong; Transnational Institute.
FOR MORE INFORMATION Contacts:
Kartini, SPI/Via Campesina +62 8131476130 (Indonesian number)
Joe Zacune, Friends of the Earth International +62 81338969955 (Indonesian number, Dec.1-15 only) or email joseph.zacune@foe.co.uk
]]>PRESS RELEASE
Friends of the Earth International
Tuesday 11th December 2007
BALI (INDONESIA) December 11, 2007 -- On the 10th anniversary of the agreement of the Kyoto Protocol, Friends of the Earth International urged industrialised countries to celebrate by announcing a commitment to agree further cuts in greenhouse gas emissions of at least 40 per cent by 2020.
The environmental group also warned that attempts by some countries to remove reduction targets from the current negotiations here in Bali could pose a serious threat to the future success of the talks.
Japan and Canada have indicated they are not prepared to even include targets for cuts in proposals currently on the table at this year’s UN climate talks.
Friends of the Earth International Vice Chair Tony Juniper said:
“Ten years on from Kyoto, the science of climate change is even more alarming. The conclusion couldn’t be clearer: urgent emissions reductions are needed now. Industrialised countries, whose economies have been bloated by the pollution that is causing climate change, must face up to this reality and signal their willingness to act. If the major polluters fail to take serious action now then millions of people will die.”
The Kyoto Protocol, agreed at UN climate talks in the Japanese city of Kyoto in 1997, is the only legally binding international agreement to tackle climate change by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. It entered into force in February 2005.
Friends of the Earth International wants to see industrialised countries:
Governments are currently in Bali to discuss future action to tackle climate change beyond the first commitment phase of the Kyoto Protocol which covers the period from 2008 -12. A strong mandate for future negotiations is needed from these talks if the next round of emissions reductions is to be implemented and running from 2012 onwards.
Juniper continued:
“Suggestions that developing countries need to make legally binding commitments are outrageous. The rich countries that are most responsible for this problem have the means to take action. They must repay their climate debt: by cutting emissions themselves, helping others to adapt and by helping to build low carbon economies”.
ENDS
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Tony Juniper, Vice Chair, Friends of the Earth International, +62 813 389 69965 (indonesian number valid Dec. 1-14)
Stephanie Long, Friends of the Earth International Climate Campaign Coordinator tel + 62 813 389 68812 (indonesian number valid Dec. 1-14)
PRESS OFFICERS
Niccolo Sarno, Friends of the Earth International Media Coordinator +62-813-389-69973 (indonesian number valid Dec. 1-14)
Helen Burley, Friends of the Earth International Media Officer
+62-813-389-69937 (indonesian number valid Dec. 1-14)
]]>
PRESS RELEASE
Friends of the Earth International
World Rainforest Movement
Global Forest Coalition
December 10, 2007
BALI (INDONESIA), Dec. 10, 2007 – Environmental groups at the United Nations climate talks in Bali today urged governments to reject a new World Bank initiative promoting the inclusion of forests in carbon markets.
The World Bank initiative, known as the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) is set to be launched on Tuesday 11th December in Bali as part of the discussions on ‘Reducing Emissions through Deforestation in Developing countries’ (REDD).
The initiative, which would allow tropical forests to be included in carbon offsetting schemes, fails to combat climate change, the groups said, because it allows industrialised countries and companies to buy their way out of emissions' reductions.
Between 18-20 percent of annual global carbon emissions are caused by deforestation, and Indonesia is the world's third largest greenhouse gas emitter as a result of deforestation.
The World Bank has a particularly appalling track record in relation to funding forests and carbon projects, not least because it provides substantial funding to oil, gas and mining projects; and as a broker, has a vested interest in promoting carbon trading. Its planned Forest Carbon Partnership Facility would have serious negative social and environmental impacts, the groups said.
Torry Kuswardhono, Energy Campaigner at Friends of the Earth Indonesia (WALHI): said:
"Carbon offsetting is extremely unfair. Forests provide livelihoods for over one billion Indigenous and other forests peoples. Wealthy companies and countries are able to buy the right to continue to pollute, while poor communities in developing countries can find themselves locked into unfavourable, long-term commercial contracts over forest management".
Sandy Gauntlett, Pacific focal point of the Global Forest Coalition and chairman of the Pacific Indigenous Peoples Environment Coalition said:
"Indigenous Peoples and local communities will bear the real costs of forest-related climate mitigation projects based on carbon finance because they will increase the pressure on their lands and territories and undermine land rights claims. With this proposal, the World Bank is violating the principle of Prior Informed Consent, which is enshrined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous Peoples should not just be consulted on this facility. Without their full and prior informed consent this facility should be disbanded."
World Rainforest Movement spokesperson Ana Filipini said :
"Carbon finance mechanisms in developing countries result in forests being transferred or sold off to large corporations who hope to acquire profitable ‘carbon credits’ associated with those forests at some point in the future. The current proposals are set to reward logging and palm oil corporations and countries with high deforestation rates whilst undermining Indigenous Peoples' and other forest-dependent communities' rights, in particular those of women."
Some of the genuine and urgent measures needed to address the deforestation problem include:
1) Giving the highest priority to halting the development, production and trade of agrofuels, and suspend all targets and other incentives, including subsidies, carbon offsets and public and private finance related to the development and production of agrofuels.
2) Keeping tropical forests out of carbon finance mechanisms, which are unpredictable, inequitable and discourage the reduction of emissions at source. This includes keeping forests out of the Clean Development
Mechanism and all carbon trading initiatives; and rejecting the World Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF).
3) Redirect the very substantial amounts of public funds, tax exemptions and other forms of subsidies currently provided to the fossil fuel and agrofuels industries, into avoided deforestation assistance funds, the effective promotion of public transport and the development of solar, wind, geothermal, wave and energy efficiency industries.
4) Strengthen weak forest conservation policies and institutions, encouraging bans or moratoria on industrial logging and forest conversion, and addressing corruption and lack of enforcement.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
IN BALI:
Joseph Zacune, Friends of the Earth International climate coordinator,Indonesian mobile number +62.813.3896995 (dec 1-14 only)
Sandy Gauntlett, Oceania focal point, Global Forest Coalition andchairperson of the Pacific Indigenous Peoples Environment Coalition, +62-
813-38938574 or email sandyoceania@yahoo.com
Torry Kuswardhono, Energy Campaigner, Friends of the Earth Indonesia (WALHI): +62- 811383270 or email torry@walhi.or.id
Fay, media officer, WALHI (Friends of the Earth Indonesia) , Indonesianmobile number +62 815 8070717
]]>MEDIA ADVISORY
Friends of the Earth International
Advance: Saturday 8th December 2007
BALI, INDONESIA – People in Bali will call for tough action to tackle climate change at a march and rally on 8th December (Saturday) as people around the world join the Global Day of Action on Climate Change.
Activists from across Indonesia will call for climate justice and deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions across the developed world. The Bali march will be the focus for thousands of people who have gathered for a civil society forum running alongside the UN Climate Change talks. Friend of the Earth International Chair Meena Raman will address the rally.
Many also want to see an end to the promotion of agrofuels as a solution to climate change and protection for the world’s forests and the people who depend on them to survive.
Friends of the Earth International Climate Coordinator Joseph Zacune said:
“Negotiators inside the UN talks in Bali must listen to the voices of people in the streets and tackle these talks with more urgency. People all around the world are demanding climate justice. The pressure is on government delegates here in Bali to deliver the outlines of a future agreement which recognises the rights and needs of people in the developing world.”
WALHI (Friends of the Earth Indonesia) Deputy Director Farah Sofi said:
“Climate change is already affecting the lives of people here in Indonesia. It is crucial that the solutions being put forward do not make that situation worse. Demand for agrofuels is contributing to deforestation and increasing carbon emissions. This is bad news for the climate and bad news for forest people as it destroys the very natural resources they depend upon.”
Events to mark the Global Day of Action are taking place in more than 80 countries around the world. For more information see http://www.globalclimatecampaign.org/
The Indonesian Forum for Environment (WALHI - Friends of the Earth Indonesia) is the largest forum of non-government and community-based organisations in Indonesia. It is represented in 25 provinces and has over 438 member organisations see: www.walhi.or.id
Friends of the Earth International is the world’s largest grassroots environmental network, with national groups in 69 countries and more than 2 million members and supporters. See www.foei.org
For more information about the civil society forum – the Solidarity Village for a Cool Planet running from 7-10 December - see www.viacampesina.org
FOR MORE INFORMATION IN BALI:
Joseph Zacune, Friends of the Earth International climate coordinator.
Indonesian mobile number +62.813.3896995 (Dec. 1-14)
Farah Sofa (known as Ovi), Deputy Director of WALHI (Friends of the Earth
Indonesia) Indonesian mobile number: +62.811.194773
Juana Camacho, Climate coordinator(Spanish and English) + 62 813 38969962
(Dec. 1-10 only)
Hildebrando Velez, Climate coordinator, (Spanish and English, only until
10 Dec.) + 62 813 38969942
PRESS OFFICERS
Helen Burley, Friends of the Earth International media officer
Indonesian mobile number +62 813 38969937 (Dec. 1-14 only)
Fay, Walhi (Friends of the Earth Indonesia) media officer
Indonesian mobile number +62 815 8070717
Niccolo Sarno, Friends of the Earth International media coordinator
Indonesian mobile number + 62 0813 38969973 (Dec. 1-14 only)
]]>7 December 2007
PRESS RELEASE
Friends of the Earth International
BALI INDONESIA --7 December, 2007 - Informal trade talks scheduled to take place in Bali this weekend could seriously threaten the opportunity for a just and sustainable way forward on tackling climate change, Friends of the Earth International warned on the eve of the talks (Friday).
The ministerial meeting, scheduled to take place in the middle of the UN climate talks in Bali has been convened by the Indonesian government. Trade ministers from 30 countries, including the US, EU, Brazil, India and China, will discuss cross-cutting trade-related climate issues such as the liberalisation of "climate-friendly" technologies, and "mutual supportiveness" between the WTO and the UNFCCC regimes.
Friends of the Earth International Chair Meena Raman said:
"This informal trade ministerial taking place behind closed doors on the sidelines of climate talks is deeply worrying. What the climate negotiations need is trust and transparency. The World Trade Organisation's anti-poor, anti-environment agenda must be kept out of the UN climate process."
The United States and European Union have launched a joint push for freer trade in environmental goods and services through the World Trade Organisation (WTO), ahead of the talks, including climate-friendly technologies. But this initiative stands to benefit business interests especially in rich countries rather than people affected by climate change in the developing world.
Meena Raman added:
"Technology transfer is not about reducing trade barriers. If the EU and US were serious about helping developing countries tackle climate change, they should be radically reducing their own emissions and living to up their obligations by paying their climate debts. This includes the costs of adaptation and mitigation, including technology transfer and forest conservation. Instead, we see them pushing intellectual property rights onto the poor that block the transfer of desperately needed environmental technology."
Friends of the Earth International highlighted the damaging impact of trade liberalisation on people, communities and the natural environment, affecting people's health, their well-being and their survival. Indigenous Peoples and forest-dwelling communities have seen an increase in deforestation as a result of growing free trade in agriculture and forest products. Deforestation is estimated to be responsible for some 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
WALHI/ Friends of the Earth Indonesia Deputy Director Farah Sofa said:
"The principle of 'free trade' should be not applied to environmental and climate matters. Climate negotiators should have the right to keep all options open to deal with the threat of climate change and trade rules must not stand in the way of our aim to achieve sustainable societies. We demand a radical shift in the dominant, unsustainable production and consumption patterns."
Friends of the Earth International said that the liberalisation of energy markets,through multilateral or bilateral negotiations to deregulate the energy sector is increasing our dependency on fossil fuels and delaying efforts to move towards low-carbon economies.
Friends of the Earth Europe Trade Campaigner Charly Poppe said: "The European Union's trade and "competitiveness" agenda, known as "Global Europe", completely disregards the need to tackle climate change. It is only concerned about grabbing developing countries' natural resources, in particular energy resources, and de-regulating economies in the interests of corporate lobbyists. Such an agenda is a blatant contradiction to the EU's own climate commitments, but it is also a serious threat to the success of the climate talks starting in Bali."
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
IN BALI:
Meena Raman Director of SAM/Friends of the Earth Malaysia and Chair of Friends of the Earth International: contact Sangeetha, SAM/Friends of the Earth Malaysia Indonesian mobile number +62.813.38969961
Farah Sofa, Deputy Director of WALHI/ Friends of the Earth Indonesia. Indonesian mobile number: +62.811.194773
Joseph Zacune, Friends of the Earth International climate coordinator. Indonesian mobile number +62.813.3896995
IN EUROPE:
Charly Poppe, Friends of the Earth Europe Trade Campaign Coordinator. Belgian mobile number +32.485.534 193 Email: charly.poppe(at) foeeurope.org
]]>Friends of the Earth International
MEDIA ADVANCE
Tuesday 4th December 2007
BALI (INDONESIA) December 4, 2007 – Government delegates in Bali must achieve a clear plan for an international climate change agreement post 2012 – to be finalised by 2009, Friends of the Earth International said today (Tuesday).
Friends of the Earth International is urging parties at the talks to push for a strong Bali Mandate to address the climate crisis, including ambitious emissions reduction commitments from developed countries. They must also finance moves towards low carbon economies in developing countries.
The achievements of the talks in Bali are essential to ensure that as the first commitment period agreed under the Kyoto Protocol ends in 2012, the next phase can be implemented in time worldwide.
Crucial issues including measures to reduce deforestation and funding to assist developing countries adapt to the impacts of climate change are also on the agenda.
Friends of the Earth International Climate Coordinator Stephanie Long said:
"Rich nations must pay their climate debt to the developing world by radically reducing their emissions and help vulnerable communities adapt to the impacts of climate change. This means embracing renewable technologies, improved energy efficiency and reduced consumption."
The grassroots international environment network is taking part in a number of events and activities at the climate talks to draw attention to the impacts of climate change (details below).
Friends of the Earth International is urging negotiators to:
Agree a timetable for negotiations to establish an international framework for major emission cuts post 2012, with legally binding burden-sharing of emissions reductions in industrialised countries based on historical responsibility;
Agree a major increase in funding for the world’s most vulnerable and impoverished countries to enable them to develop low carbon economies and adapt and build resilience against the impacts of climate change;
Establish an independent verification system to ensure emissions reductions and financing obligations are met, with stringent penalties for non-compliance.
The organisation is also highlighting concerns that agrofuels are being promoted as a solution to climate change – despite clear evidence that agrofuel production is damaging the environment and in some cases increasing emission levels.
In Indonesia it is estimated that 100 million people, of which 40 million are Indigenous Peoples, depend mainly on forests and natural resource goods and services. Large areas of forest lands traditionally used by Indigenous Peoples have already been expropriated for monoculture plantations, particularly for palm oil.
Friends of the Earth International / WALHI (Friends of the Earth Indonesia) Events in Bali:
Friends of the Earth International Side Event 8-9.30pm
Communities Affected by Climate Change
Report presentation and testimonies with speakers from affected communities in Indonesia and the Pacific Islands.
Financial Institutions and Climate Change
Conference on issues, impacts and alternatives organised among others by Jubilee South, Friends of the Earth International, Greenpeace International, Oil Change International.
Solidarity Village for a Cooler Planet
Workshops and events involving a wide range of NGOs in Nusa Dua
International Day of Action
March and rally – Denpasar – with costumes, music and dance, people from across Bali will join in the international day of action on climate change which is taking place around the world. Contact Walhi Bali.
“Lost in Palm Oil”
A 10 minutes version of a new documentary about palm oil film in Indonesia, produced by Inge Altemeier, will be screened at the IIED mini film festival at 10 – 1030am.
Friends of the Earth International campaigners are available for interview.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Stephanie Long, Friends of the Earth International Climate Coordinator
+62-813-389-68812
Niccolo Sarno, Friends of the Earth International Media Coordinator
+62-813-389-69973
Helen Burley, Friends of the Earth International Media Officer
+62-813-389-69937
Fay, Friends of the Earth Indonesia / WALHI Media Officer
+62-815-8070717
]]>MEDIA ADVISORY
Friends of the Earth International
November 29, 2007
BALI (INDONESIA) November 29, 2007 -- Biofuels must not be promoted as a solution to climate change, Friends of the Earth International said today, just a few days before key United Nations climate change talks start in Bali, Indonesia.
The environmental group, speaking ahead of the 3-14 December Bali talks, warned that an increase in the use of biofuels - also widely known as agrofuels - would have disastrous social and environmental impacts. [1]
Agrofuels such as palm oil are set to be promoted as a major solution to climate change at the UN climate talks. The demand for agrofuels mainly to fuel cars -mainly in over-consuming industrialised countries -is
skyrocketing. Yet recent studies from around the world highlight that the agrofuels boom is having severe social and environmental impacts. [2]
Forests are being cut down and Indigenous Peoples and forest dwelling communities are being displaced, often violently, from their territories to make way for agrofuels plantations run by multinational corporations that expropriate land and water resources.
Large areas of forest lands traditionally used by Indigenous Peoples have already been expropriated for monoculture plantations, for example for palm oil in Indonesia where it is estimated that 100 million people, of which 40 million are indigenous peoples, depend mainly on forests and natural resource goods and services.
Paradoxically, while agrofuels are being promoted as a solution to climate change, the draining of peat lands and cutting down of tropical forests for their cultivation is releasing huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, far more than would be saved by resorting to agrofuels. [3]
Friends of the Earth International Climate Coordinator Joseph Zacune said:
"Governments must heed warnings from major agencies including the UN and the OECD and immediately act on the demands from civil society worldwide by rejecting agrofuels. From all over the world we are getting reports of the irreversible social and environmental damage being caused by agrofuels. We cannot sit by and watch this global disaster unfold – the production, development and trade of agrofuels must be stopped."
Farah Sofa, deputy director of WALHI/ Friends of the Earth Indonesia said:
"Ninety percent of palm oil – which is used in thousands of everyday products, from margarine and bread to lipstick and soap – comes from Indonesia and Malaysia. The palm oil industry has accelerated deforestation, driving Indigenous Peoples off their land. The demand for palm oil for agrofuel use could sound the death knell for our forests. What we need is a reduction of palm oil consumption, an end to its export, and forest conservation that respects Indigenous Peoples' land rights."
Meena Raman, Friends of the Earth International chair and Secretary of Friends of the Earth Malaysia said:
"Agrofuels is a disaster in the making. Their production, development and trade largely stem from unsustainable energy demand in industrialised countries. We are strongly urging our government to re-consider its decision of turning Malaysia into a major agrofuel producing country as it is leading to further destruction of our forests and violations of the customary rights of Indigenous Peoples. We need Northern countries to develop stringent policies to reduce their energy consumption and attempt to find solutions to their energy needs locally."
The promotion of agrofuels is causing massive environmental and social damage on all continents, including in the Americas.
Hildebrando Velez from Censat Agua Viva / Friends of the Earth Colombia said:
“Agrofuels are being promoted as a solution to climate change, but they are just a way to avoid policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions at their source. The establishment of plantations for agrofuels is displacing entire communities and Indigenous peoples – simply to fill the tanks of cars. The price of corn, sugar and cooking oil is rising because of agrofuel production – undermining the capacity of people to feed themselves and increasing hunger. So not only is a country like Colombia suffering the adverse impacts of climate change itself, but it also suffers the adverse impacts of this false solution to climate change."
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Farah Sofa, WALHI/ Friends of the Earth Indonesia Deputy Director: Indonesian mobile number +62 811 194773
Meena Raman, Friends of the Earth International chair and Secretary of Friends of the Earth Malaysia, Indonesian mobile number + 62 813 38969970 (valid until Dec.14 only)
Joseph Zacune, Friends of the Earth International climate coordinator, Indonesian mobile number + 62 813 38969955 (valid until Dec.14 only)
Stephanie Long, Friends of the Earth International climate coordinator: Indonesian mobile number + 62 813 38968812 (valid until Dec.14 only)
Hildebrando Velez, Friends of the Earth International climate Coordinator: Indonesian mobile number + 62 813 38969942 (valid until Dec.8 only)
NOTES TO EDITORS
[1] More information is available in the Friends of the Earth international agrofuels declaration online at http://www.foei.org/en/campaigns/climate/energy/agrofuels-declaration
[2] Among the most recent prominent studies:
OECD Round Table on Sustainable Development: "Biofuels: Is the cure worse than the disease." September 2007 www.oecd.org/dataoecd/9/3/39411732.pdf
United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Jean Ziegler, stated that it is a crime against humanity to divert arable land to the production of crops which are then burned for fuel. Ziegler demanded an international five-year ban on producing biofuels to combat soaring food prices. Grant Ferrett, Biofuels ‘crime against humanity’. BBC Online, 27 October 2007 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7065061.stm
[3] In the developing world, greenhouse gases emissions are mainly originated from agriculture and land use changes such as deforestation. For example, a recent report titled “Indonesia and Climate Change” and published by the World Bank and the British government, shows that deforestation puts Indonesia as the world’s third largest emitter after the US and China. World Bank news release, "Carbon dioxide emissions on the rise", May 2007 http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTDATASTA/64199955-1178226923002/21326741/FINALPressReleaseLGDB2007.pdf
A study by Wetlands International, Delft Hydraulics and Alterra estimates that one tonne of biodiesel made from palm oil from South-east Asia's peatlands is linked to the emission of 10-30 tonnes of carbon dioxide. "Peat CO2, Assessment of CO2 emissions from drained peatlands in SE Asia", Hooijer, Silvius, Wösten and Page, 2006 http://www.wetlands.org/publication.aspx?ID=51a80e5f-4479-4200-9be0-66f1aa9f9ca9
]]>
MEDIA ADVISORY
Friends of the Earth International
November 26, 2007
On
3-14 December, the thirteenth annual negotiating conference for
members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
will take place on the Indonesian island of Bali.
Friends of
the Earth International will be lobbying for the launch of an
ambitious roadmap at the negotiations that will lead to real changes
that are urgently needed in order to address the climate crisis.
Friends of the Earth International Climate Campaign
Coordinator Joseph Zacune said:
“Industrialised nations
must commit to stringent targets and timetables that ensure steep
emissions’ reductions after peaking by 2015. Those countries with
the greatest responsibility for historical and continuing greenhouse
gas emissions have sufficient wealth to act and must do so. The
inequitable consumption of resources by the North and exploitation of
resources from the South has led to ecological debt that must be
repaid. A comprehensive package of mitigation and adaptation efforts
is required and false solutions such as agrofuels, nuclear power and
carbon offset projects including monoculture tree plantations must be
resolutely excluded.”
Friends of the Earth Indonesia /
WALHI Deputy Director Farah Sofa said:
“Indonesia, the host
of these climate talks, has been used as a testing ground for a
major, false solution to climate change – agrofuels. The
destruction of tropical forests in Indonesia, including the draining
and burning of peatland to clear land for plantation crops such as
palm oil releases so many tons of carbon that Indonesia ranks in
third place behind the US and China as the top emitters of greenhouse
gases.”
Friends of the Earth International Climate Campaign
Coordinator Stephanie Long said:
“Current commitments from
the industrialised world to fund mitigation and adaptation programs
in the global South are grossly inadequate and based on voluntary
'charity' rather than real assessments of needs and attribution of
responsibility. Clearly, the industrialised world has profited
significantly from over a century of producing greenhouse gas
emissions that perversely will provide protection from climate change
impacts. Globally, billions of dollars are spent annually on military
defense and repayment of odious debts with undeniable environmental
and social costs. Such quantities of funds must be redirected to
adaptation programs that provide relief for the vulnerable
communities and build resilience to climate change impacts.”
Friends of the Earth International Climate Campaign
Coordinator Hildebrando Velez said:
“Governments need to
promote measures that allow us to achieve sustainable societies by,
for example, supporting community-level decision-making over energy
sources and consumption patterns, the phasing out of fossil fuel
subsidies and shifting investment to clean renewable energy and
energy efficiency. These measures must be urgently carried out
without false solutions such as agrofuels and carbon offseting that
are being promoted to shirk responsibilities.”
In Indonesia it is estimated that 100 million people, of which 40
million are indigenous peoples, depend mainly on forests and natural
resource goods and services. [1] Large areas of forest lands
traditionally used by indigenous peoples have already been
expropriated for monoculture plantations, particularly for palm oil.
The promotion of biofuels – more accurately known as agrofuels –
is causing massive environmental and social damage from Colombia and
Brazil to Indonesia and Malaysia. Forests are being cut down and
indigenous people driven off their land around the world to make way
for corporate-run plantations that expropriate land and water
resources. Agrofuels are being perversely promoted as a solution to
climate change while the draining of peat lands and cutting down of
tropical forests for their cultivation is releasing huge amounts of
carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Recent studies are highlighting
the social and environmental damage that agrofuels are causing around
the world. [2] Friends of the Earth Indonesia / WALHI Deputy Director
Farah Sofa added: “The agrofuels boom – which is being fuelled by
unsustainable consumption demands in industrialised countries – is
making this terrible situation much worse by fuelling deforestation,
the expropriation of ancestral lands and violations of indigenous
peoples’ land rights. Following the EU’s announcement this year
of increased agrofuels for its transport needs, the Indonesian
government has signed agreements worth billion of dollars to develop
agrofuels. Forests are being cut down, indigenous peoples and forest
communities driven off their land – simply to fuel cars,” she
added. Reducing emissions from deforestation (RED) is a key issue on
the agenda for the post 2012 period. Friends of the Earth
International believes forest protection programs must uphold
community rights and land rights of indigenous peoples and other
local communities, prohibiting any actions that seek to exclude
indigenous peoples and forest dependent communities from
'conservation' areas. Failure to prohibit such action is an
endorsement of environmental racism and threatens the continuation of
sophisticated cultural practices of conservation. Financial
mechanisms for reducing deforestation cannot include trading of
'certificates' or credits which will create a global offset for the
failure to reduce emissions in industrial and transport sectors –
weakening the environmental integrity of the post 2012 agreement, the
environmental campaign group said. The proposed inclusion of ‘sinks’
in carbon trading -through deforestation reduction schemes- also
carries huge risks for forests and those that are dependent upon them
by allowing countries and corporations to buy up forest lands to
allow continued pollution at home.
Adaptation should be
designed to help the world’s poorest people, and should protect
ecosystems, livelihoods and human security, according to FoEI.
Community-based adaptation provides the best opportunity to ensure
that adaptation projects are culturally, technically and socially
appropriate, and that they increase resilience to the impacts of
climate change.
According to Kermal Dervis, head of the
United Nations Development Programme, donors will need to provide 50
to 100 per cent more finance over and above current aid –
equivalent to $50–100 billion annually – to cover the impacts of
climate change. [3]
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Joseph
Zacune, Friends of the Earth International climate coordinator: UK
mobile number +44-7967 877 593 or Friends of the Earth press
office in London +44-20 7566 1649
Stephanie Long, Friends of
the Earth International climate coordinator:
Australian mobile
number + 61-414 136 461
Farah Sofa, WALHI/ Friends of the
Earth Indonesia Deputy Director:
Indonesian mobile number +62
811194773
Hildebrando Velez, Friends of the Earth
International Climate Campaign
Coordinator: Colombian mobile
number + 57 3103090866
NOTES TO EDITORS
[1]
Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Sixth session, “Oil Palm and
Other Commercial Tree Plantations, Monocropping: Impacts on
Indigenous Peoples’ Land Tenure and Resource Management Systems and
Livelihoods.” May 2007
In the developing world, greenhouse
gases emissions are mainly originated from agriculture and land use
changes such as deforestation. For example, a recent report titled
“Indonesia and Climate Change” and published by the World Bank
and the British government, shows that deforestation puts Indonesia
as the world’s third largest emitter after the US and China.
World
Bank news release, “Carbon dioxide emissions on the rise”, May
2007
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTDATASTA/64199955-1178226923002/21326741/FINALPressReleaseLGDB2007.pdf
[2] Two key reports among the most recent reports are:
OECD Round Table on Sustainable Development: “Biofuels: Is
the cure worse
than the disease.” September 2007
www.oecd.org/dataoecd/9/3/39411732.pdf
United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Jean
Ziegler, stated that it is a crime against humanity to divert arable
land to the production of crops which are then burned for fuel.
Ziegler demanded an international five-year ban on producing biofuels
to combat soaring food prices. Grant Ferrett, Biofuels ‘crime
against humanity’. BBC Online, 27 October 2007
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7065061.stm
[3]
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/43af1a4a-c817-11db-b0dc-000b5df10621.html
Furthermore, article 4.3 of the UNFCCC commits Annex II countries
to “provide new and additional resources to meet the agreed full
incremental cost of implementing measures…” including “preparing
for the adaptation to climate change.” In addition Article 4.4
states that Annex II countries “shall also assist the developing
country Parties that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse
effects of climate change in meeting costs of adaptation to those
adverse effects.”
]]>
Friends of the Earth International
November 22, 2007
ADVANCE FOR NOVEMBER 26, 2007
LONDON (UK), NOVEMBER 26, 2007- A new report launched on November 26 provides nine testimonies from community members around the globe who have dramatic first-hand experience of the devastating impacts of climate change.
The report is available for journalists preview In English: http://www.foei.org/en/publications/pdfs/climate-testimonies/
In French: http://www.foei.org/fr/publications/pdfs/climate-testimonies/
In Spanish: http://www.foei.org/es/publications/pdfs/climate-testimonies/
Ahead of the UN climate talks, 3-14 December in Bali, Friends of the
Earth International is today launching a new report “Voices from
Communities Affected by ClimateChange”. The report includes nine
stories from different countries around the world – chronicling
specific impacts, and providing testimonies from local community
members who have dramatic first-hand experience of devastating
climatic events.
Director of CENSAT Agua Viva/ Friends of the Earth Colombia Tatiana
Roa Avendaño said:
“We are on the brink of a global climatic catastrophe and poor,
vulnerable communities – who are the least responsible for climate
change – are already being hit by its impacts including displacement,
disease, the destruction of livelihoods and ecosystems."
Despite having to confront environmental disasters such as sea level
rises in the Pacific, melting glaciers in the Andean region and
drought in Africa, these communities are showing remarkable resilience.
Yet, nowhere near enough is being done to stop the roots causes of
climate change. Over-consumption – particularly in industrialised
countries – continues unabated and automobile, mining, oil and now
biofuel corporations are raking in the profits.
This drives home the need for a global, diverse movement to tackle
climate change and demand climate justice. This can only be achieved
by halting unsustainable consumption and production while promoting
genuine solutions including clean renewable energy, energy-efficiency,
the funding of adaptation, mitigation and forest conservation that
protects land rights.”
Indigenous peoples, women, local authorities, farmers, small business
owners and small-scale fisherfolk speak out from Honduras, Peru,
Brazil, Mali, Swaziland, the UK, Australia, Malaysia and Tuvalu. The
voices of these community members highlight strategies that they have
developed to attempt to adapt to the radical transformations that
climate change has imposed on their territories, lifestyles and
ecosystems.
Friends of the Earth International Climate Campaigner Stephanie Long said:
“Adaptation should be pro-poor, and protect ecosystems, livelihoods
and human security. Community-based adaptation provides the best
opportunity to ensure that adaptation projects are culturally,
technically and socially appropriate, and that they increase
resilience to the impacts of climate change.”
Friends of the Earth International will be demanding this in our
lobbying efforts for a post-2012 Kyoto agreement in UN climate talks
in Bali this December. Industrialised countries must accept
responsibility for deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions within the
coming fifteen years. The fate of these brave community members must
recognised by the international community.
The costs of climate adaptation in developing countries will amount to
many billions of dollars per year. [1] Industrialised countries should
assess the costs of climate adaptation and develop a detailed analysis
of how new financing schemes, through tax and state funding, can be
implemented to raise the billions necessary. Under the UNFCCC, rich
countries are obliged to finance developing country adaptation. [2]
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Tatiana Roa Avendaño, CENSAT Agua Viva/ Friends of the Earth Colombia director:
+ 57 1 2442465 or + 57 1 2440581 or + 57 1 3377709
Joe Zacune, Friends of the Earth International climate campaigner: UK mobile number +44-7967 877 593 or Friends of the Earth press office in London +44-20 7566 1649
Stephanie Long, Friends of the Earth International climate
coordinator: Australian mobile number + 61-414 136 461
NOTE TO EDITORS
[1] According to Kermal Dervis, head of UNDP, donors will need to
provide 50 to 100 per cent more finance over and above current aid –
equivalent to $50–100bn annually – to cover the impacts of climate
change.^ See
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/43af1a4a-c817-11db-b0dc-000b5df10621.html
[2] Article 4.3 of the UNFCCC commits Annex II countries to ‘provide
new and additional resources to meet the agreed full incremental cost
of implementing measures…’ including ‘preparing for the adaptation to
climate change’. In addition Article 4.4 states that Annex II
countries ‘shall also assist the developing country Parties that are
particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change in
meeting costs of adaptation to those adverse effects.’
[3] Friends of the Earth International is the world’s largest
grassroots environmental network, uniting 69 diverse national member
groups and some 5,000 local activist groups on every continent. With
over 2 million members and supporters around the world, we campaign on
today’s most urgent environmental and social issues. Our vision is of
a peaceful and sustainable world based on societies living in harmony
with nature.
]]>
Friends of the Earth International Press Release
Date: 9 November 2007
On 12-17 November a synthesis report by the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC) will be adopted and approved by governments in
Valencia, Spain.
Friends of the Earth International climate campaigner Joseph Zacune said:
"The IPCC has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are facing an
emergency situation and that tackling climate change is critical if we
are to safeguard the survival of humanity. People in developing
countries will be hit the hardest. However, we must ensure that these
dire warnings translate into urgent action and that the policies to
tackle them are sufficiently robust. The UN talks in Bali this December
must begin to outline a post-2012 Kyoto agreement that establishes
targets and timetables for radical emissions reductions particularly for
industrialised nations. We need adaptation programs that will provide
relief for the vulnerable communities and build resilience to climate
change impacts.
“It's time for climate justice. Wealthy nations which have benefited
economically by polluting the most must finance developing countries’
adaptation and mitigation costs. We need genuine solutions including,
large scale investment in energy efficiency in buildings and transport,
clean renewable energy such as solar and wind, lifestyle changes and the
conservation of our world's forests. These measures must be urgently
carried out without resorting to false solutions such as agrofuels and
risky technology such as nuclear power.”
The IPCC findings provide a mandate to halt environmentally destructive
practices often promoted in the name of development as such practice
will increase the vulnerability of communities in the global South to
the impacts of climate change. Friends of the Earth believes that UN
climate change negotiations must expand its influence over global
economic and development policies to ensure that actions to mitigate and
adapt to climate change under the UNFCCC are not undermined.
A range of mitigation and adaptation efforts are required, including
changes in lifestyle and unsustainable consumption patterns mainly in
the rich, developed countries that have accumulated an ecological debt
to poor communities in the global South. Historical per capita emissions
and capacity to act have been neglected during negotiations. Therefore,
for a post-2012 regime to be fair and equitable, there must be agreement
on the burden-sharing principles between the North and South to avoid a
climate catastrophe.
Tackling climate change will not be successful by selecting certain
technologies whilst carrying on a business-as-usual approach to fossil
fuel extraction and high-carbon lifestyles. Sustainable clean renewable
energy technologies are proven, can reduce emissions and remove
dependency from fossil fuels.
Governments need to promote measures that allow us to achieve
sustainable societies by, for example, supporting community control over
energy resources, the phasing out of fossil fuel subsidies and shifting
investment to clean energy. The promotion of biofuels - more accurately
known as agrofuels - is causing massive environmental and social damage
from Colombia and Brazil to Indonesia and Malaysia. Forests are being
cut down and indigenous people driven off their land to make way for
corporate-run plantations that expropriate land and water resources.
Agrofuels are being perversely promoted as a solution to climate change
while the draining of peat lands and cutting down of tropical forests
for their cultivation is releasing huge amounts of carbon dioxide into
the atmosphere.
Notes to editor
This synthesis report has taken six years to compile, draws on research
over 2,500 scientific experts from over 130 countries and should shock
the world into taking urgent action to reduce global emissions.
This synthesis report includes the core findings of the three volumes
published this year. The first part, which focused on science, was
published on 2 February 2007 in Paris. The second part, published on 6
April 2007 in Brussels, focused on impacts and showed that the world's
poorest people will be hit hardest by the effects of climate change. The
third, published in Bangkok, 4 May 2007 focused on technologies to
mitigate climate change. On 12-17 2007 November these synthesised
reports will be adopted and approved by governments.
CONTACTS
Friends of the Earth will have the following spokespeople available.
IN SPAIN:
José Carlos Puentes, Energy and Climate change campaigner, Friends of
the Earth Spain. Attending parallel NGOs meetings in Madrid from Mon 12
– Wed 14 Nov, then in Granada Thu 15 and Fri 16 Nov:
Alexandra Hemingway, President of Friends of the Earth Spain. She is
based in Mallorca, but will be in Valencia on Thursday 15 November 2007
at a parallel meeting for NGOs during the day and at the 5 minute
blackout in the main square at 8pm. The blackout is being organised by a
coalition of environmental and other groups to draw attention to the
need for action on climate change.
To arrange interviews, please call Friends of the Earth Spain press
officers: Esther Varela Arbones +34-680 936 327 or Lawrence Sudlow
+34-667 473 193. Office Tel: +34 91 306 99 00 or +34-902 366 311 .
medios@tierra.org
IN LONDON
Joe Zacune, Friends of the Earth International climate campaigner: Until
Nov. 11 reachable on Swaziland mobile number + 268 663 4740 and from Nov
11 on UK mobile number +44-7967 877 593. Friends of the Earth media
team, Tel 020 7566 1649
IN COLOMBIA
Juana Camacho Otero, Friends of the Earth International climate campaigner (for interviews in Spanish): In Colombia on + +57-13377709 or mobile: + 30124220778
]]>MEDIA ADVISORY
Friends of the Earth International
Monday 24 September 2007
WASHINGTON, DC, USA / LONDON, UK, 24 September 2007 - The Chair of Friends of the Earth International, Meena Raman, warned the world's Heads of State today that `climate justice' needs to be urgently addressed in the fight against global warming.
Meena Raman, from Malaysia, addressed the participants of the New York United Nations (UN) `informal' Climate Summit, a meeting attended today by some 80 Heads of State.
“Industrialised nations which have contributed disproportionately to climate change must take lead in radically reducing their emissions of greenhouse gases,“ said Meena Raman, Chair of Friends of the Earth International in New York.
“The eight most powerful industrialised countries - the G8 - account for 43% of the emissions causing climate change, yet have only 13% of the world's population. That's climate injustice, because climate change impacts most severely upon the world's poorest people.“
Meena Raman, from Malaysia, addressed the participants of the New York United Nations (UN) `informal' Climate Summit, a meeting attended today by some 80 Heads of State.
“Some technologies being promoted to mitigate climate change, such as nuclear energy and genetically modified trees, are false solutions as they pose risks to the environment, as well as to health and safety, and there are many serious concerns over carbon capture and storage as well as biofuels.“
“More emphasis and priority should be given to energy efficiency and clean renewables. It is essential that, at the UN talks in Bali this December, we see the launch of negotiations for a post-2012 UN framework to fight climate change that will end in a more just and climate friendly world,” she added.
On September 27-28 the Bush administration will host its own climate change gathering in Washington, DC. The so-called “major economies” meeting will be attended by the 16 countries that account for around 90 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.
The Bush administration is expected to continue to oppose legally binding targets to fight climate change and instead promote `aspirational' targets that would allow polluters to go on harming the planet.
“The United States must join the rest of the world in tackling climate change within the United Nations framework, instead of promoting purely voluntary measures that will not achieve necessary emissions reductions”, said Elizabeth Bast of Friends of the Earth US in Washington.
“The major economies meeting is another attempt by the Bush administration to send the world the `wrong way' in the global fight against climate change,” she added.
Friends of the Earth and other organizations will be rallying outside the `major economies' talks in Washington on Friday Sept.28 by holding `wrong way' signs.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
IN NEW YORK
Meena Raman, chair of Friends of the Earth International; Tel: + 60-1243 00042 (Malaysian cell)
IN WASHINGTON, DC
Elizabeth Bast, International Policy Analyst, Friends of the Earth US; Tel: + 1 - 202 222 0719 or +1 202 641 7203 (US cell) Nick Berning, press officer, Friends of the Earth US; Tel: + 1 - 202- 222-0748
IN LONDON (UK)
Joe Zacune, climate campaigner, Friends of the Earth International; Tel: +44 -7967 877 593 (UK cell)
Pictures of Meena Raman are available