Business as usual is not an option for energy generation and the
way food is produced, says Greenpeace. Renewables and increased
efficiency are key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions not the
false and misleading claims of 'clean' coal or expensive and
dangerous nuclear power. These simply won't deliver the urgent
emissions cuts needed to tackle climate change.
"The G8 must finally take action on
climate change. By adopting binding emission reduction targets
and investing in an energy revolution based on real solutions - a
switch to renewable energies and massive increase in efficiency -
the G8 would give a constructive response to rocketing oil prices
and finally tackle climate change," stressed Daniel Mittler,
Greenpeace International's climate policy expert.
Greenpeace is calling on
the G8 to agree to:
• Keep global average temperature increases as far below a 2
degree Celsius rise as possible (compared to pre-industrial
levels);
• Global emissions have to start falling by 2015 and must be
cut by more than 50 percent by 2050 (compared to 1990 levels);
• Industrialised countries must take the lead and commit to
cut their emissions by at least 30 percent by 2020 and 80-90
percent by 2050 compared to 1990 levels;
• Japan must unilaterally commit to a 25-40 percent cut by
2020 to be a credible summit host;
• Recognise that protecting intact forests is crucial for
preserving biodiversity and combating climate change.
The
food crisis can only be resolved by addressing the core causes
behind it. We need farming that is ecological and bio-diverse,
rather than continuing with chemical-intensive farming or pursuing
the false promise of genetic engineering, which is a threat to food
security rather than a solution to the crisis.
"The G8 must shift investments to ecological methods that
provide higher yields, better food and more resilience to climate
change. If we continue to treat our soil like dirt, contaminate our
water with toxic chemicals, and plant more GE crops that yield less
and fail under bad weather conditions, we will not solve the
current food crisis," said Jan van Aken, agriculture expert at
Greenpeace International.
Greenpeace is calling on the G8 to:
• Increase public investment in research and development on
ecological and climate change-resilient farming;
• Stop funding for GE crops and prohibit patents on
seeds;
• Phase out the most toxic chemicals and eliminate
environmentally destructive agricultural subsidies;
• Protect domestic food production and drop mandatory targets
to increase the ratio of biofuels used in transport.
Other contacts: Contacts at the G8 Media Centre in Toyako, Hokkaido:• Daniel Mittler, Greenpeace International G8/climate expert, +49 171 876 5345• Manami Suzuki, Greenpeace Japan climate campaigner, +81 80 5416 6506• Beth Herzfeld, Greenpeace International press officer, +44 (0) 7717 802 891
Notes: For further information see www.greenpeace.org/g8