Press release - December 4, 2008
Brussels, Belgium — Greenpeace expresses its disappointment that EU member states have failed to openly reject the introduction of forest-based credits in the European carbon market. Instead, it has left the issue open and directed the Commission to examine it in more depth.
Joris den Blanken, Greenpeace EU climate and energy policy director said: "The Commission will come to the same conclusion as we have: that you cannot allow industries to continue to pollute in exchange for planting or protecting forests in developing countries."
Sebastien Risso, Greenpeace EU forest policy director said: "Preserving forests must be a central part of any international climate agreement. But to avoid a climate catastrophe, we need a forest preservation plan that will ensure genuine emission reductions, maintain the stability of carbon markets, and protect biodiversity and forest-dependent people."
Greenpeace calls on the EU member states to earmark a fixed percentage of the ETS auctioning revenues between 2013-2020 to replenish a global forest-protection fund. So far, only Germany has committed to earmark €500 million annually from the revenues that will be generated by the ETS. Greenpeace also calls on negotiators in Poznan to support a permanent mechanism to top up the future forest fund.
Other contacts:
Joris den Blanken – Greenpeace EU climate and energy policy director: +32 (0)2 274 1919, +32 (0)479 96 13 75, 
Mark Breddy – Greenpeace EU communications manager: +32 (0)2 274 1903, +32 (0)496 156 229 (mobile) 