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Greenpeace statement on Merkel speech in US congress and EU-US summit
03 November 2009
Greenpeace's EU climate and energy policy director Joris den Blanken said: "Chancellor Merkel has sent a clear signal to the United States. As the country with the greatest historical responsibility for climate change, the US now needs to put substantial and concrete commitments on emission reductions on the table. President Obama promised to lead on climate change: it's time he backed his pledge up with some action. Otherwise, Copenhagen could fail."
Chancellor Merkel agreed last week with other European leaders on the EU's position going into Copenhagen. The EU has pledged to conditionally cut emissions by 30% by 2020, under a global Copenhagen climate treaty that will supplement the Kyoto agreement. In September 2009, leading climate scientists called on rich countries to reduce carbon emissions by at least 40% in order to keep global warming below dangerous levels.[1] With climate legislation still awaiting congressional approval, US President Barack Obama is yet to make a pledge. The US climate bill would reduce US emissions by a meagre 4% compared to 1990 levels.
Greenpeace calls on EU representatives attending the EU-US summit today to urge President Obama to personally attend the climate conference in Copenhagen and to make stronger commitments on emission reductions.
Chancellor Merkel agreed last week with other European leaders on the EU's position going into Copenhagen. The EU has pledged to conditionally cut emissions by 30% by 2020, under a global Copenhagen climate treaty that will supplement the Kyoto agreement. In September 2009, leading climate scientists called on rich countries to reduce carbon emissions by at least 40% in order to keep global warming below dangerous levels.[1] With climate legislation still awaiting congressional approval, US President Barack Obama is yet to make a pledge. The US climate bill would reduce US emissions by a meagre 4% compared to 1990 levels.
Greenpeace calls on EU representatives attending the EU-US summit today to urge President Obama to personally attend the climate conference in Copenhagen and to make stronger commitments on emission reductions.
Notes to Editor
[1] Scientists statement on 40% emissions reduction target for developed countries, http://assets.panda.org/downloads/scientists_statement___september_2009.pdf
Contact information
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Mark Breddy
Communications manager
mark.breddy@greenpeace.org
Telephone: +32 2 274 19 03/ Mobile:+32 496 15 62 29
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Joris den Blanken
EU Climate & Energy Policy Director
joris.den.blanken@greenpeace.org
Telephone: +32 2 274 19 19/Mobile: +32 476 96 13 75
Fax: 32 2 274 19 10
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Stefan Krug, Head of political unit, Greenpeace Germany (in Barcelona: +34 608 536 427)
Mike Crocker, Greenpeace USA media director (in Barcelona: +34 626 415 442)
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