Climate change mitigation

MEDIA ADVISORY
Friends of the Earth International

April 27, 2007
CLIMATE CHANGE: REPORT TO SHOW THAT MITIGATION CAN START NOW
BANGKOK, THAILAND, April 27, 2007 — The world’s leading scientists and world governments are to meet in Bangkok, Thailand from 30 April ahead of publication on May 4 of the third part of a key United nations report on climate change.
Experts are expected to say that massive investment in renewable energy technology and energy efficiency is needed to stop greenhouse gas emissions from rising with disastrous consequences.

This third volume of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)Fourth Assessment Report will focus on the scientific, technological,environmental, and economic aspects of mitigation of climate change.

Friends of the Earth International warned that the urgency to act is greater than ever, and that sustainable solutions are ready and waiting. Developed countries, responsible for a greater share of past and current emissions, have a moral obligation and economic capacity to act first and do most.

Friends of the Earth’s International climate campaigner, Catherine Pearce said:

“Renewable energy technologies are proven, can reduce emissions and remove our dependency from fossil fuels. Governments around the world need to promote their development, through policies and the kind of investment which has previously been enjoyed by nuclear and fossil fuels. They also need to invest in and encourage energy efficiency.

“We hope that this report will push governments to take action, by demonstrating that the policies, measures and sustainable energy technologies are readily available. We have no time to lose, and no excuses for further inaction.

“At the key United Nations talks in Indonesia this December, industrialised countries must also agree a more effective and stronger second round to the Kyoto agreement on climate change which starts in 2013,” she added.

NOTES TO EDITORS
This 2007 United Nations report, the IPCC’s Fourth Assessment report, has taken six years to compile, draws on research by 2,500 scientists from over 130 countries and should shock the world into taking urgent action to reduce global emissions.

This section of the report – the third in a series – is based on new literature on the scientific, technological, environmental, economic aspects of mitigation of climate change.

The first part, which focused on science, was published on 2 February 2007 in Paris. The second part, published on 6 April in Brussels, focused on impacts and showed that the world’s poorest people will be hit hardest by the effects of climate change.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

In Bangkok, Thailand (Apr 30-May 4): Catherine Pearce, Friends of the Earth International Climate campaigner. Tel: +44 7811 283 641 (UK mobile)

In London, UK: Kath Stipala, Media Officer, Friends of the Earth Media line (24 hrs) +44-20 7566 1649 or email media@foe.uk