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Environment ministers fail to salvage EU climate leadership

21 October 2009

European environment ministers meeting today in Luxembourg agreed on the EU’s position going into December’s global climate summit in Copenhagen. But the failure to bring commitments on emission cuts in line with scientific requirements means that the EU’s position is not strong enough to unlock the stalled negotiations, said Greenpeace. The meeting of heads of state and government in Brussels next week is the last chance the EU has of giving the global climate negotiations a much-needed boost.

Greenpeace reactive statement on outcome of EU finance ministers meeting

20 October 2009

Talks broke down today at a crucial meeting of EU finance ministers in Luxembourg, with ministers failing to reach any agreement on climate funding for developing countries, in preparation of the global meeting in Copenhagen in December. This means that the decision will once again be postponed until the European heads of state and government meet at the EU summit on 29 and 30 October in Brussels.

Samnieng Huadlim, a rice farmer from Thailand, hands EU Commissioner Vassiliou a petition with 180,000 signatures. Farmers from Spain, Sweden and Thailand are at the EU today to meet European Commissioner for health, Androulla Vassiliou, and join Greenpeace in handing over a petition to stop the authorisation of Bayer GM rice. Enlarge Image

GM not the answer – straight from the farmers’ mouth

15 October 2009

Farmers are bringing the issue of genetically modified (GM) crop contamination right to the Commission’s front doorstep today. They are meeting European Commissioner for health, Androulla Vassiliou, and joining Greenpeace in handing over a petition signed by 180,000 people to stop the authorisation of Bayer GM rice.

Commission falls between two stools on financing for low carbon technologies

07 October 2009

The European Commission has proposed increased and coordinated funding to develop a greener energy sector, but has failed to deliver a consistent strategy to achieve this objective, said Greenpeace today following the release of an EU proposal for public and private investment in low carbon technologies. The proposal supports renewables and energy efficiency and an upgrade of the energy system to integrate these technologies in a smart grid network. Yet, it also persists in subsidies for outdated nuclear and coal-based technologies that are designed to operate in centralised and inflexible power grids.

Greenpeace activists on board the Rainbow Warrior last week demanded immediate action to protect the endangered Mediterranean bluefin tuna from commercial extinction by deploying buoys marked 'Crime Scene' around cages in Turkey holding bluefin tuna being fattened up for harvesting. Enlarge Image

Mediterranean nations defer EU decision on bluefin tuna trade ban

21 September 2009

Opposition from Mediterranean governments at a meeting of EU national representatives in Brussels today has postponed a decision on whether to place bluefin tuna on an endangered species list and effectively ban its trade. EU environment ministers are now expected to reach a final position by the end of the year.

EU-backed emergency climate fund raises the stakes for G20

17 September 2009

As world leaders prepare to attend the G20 meeting in Pittsburgh next week, EU leaders have called, at an extraordinary Summit tonight, for emergency funding to allow developing countries prepare for climate action. European heads of state and government meeting in Brussels tonight want to see €5-7 billion distributed by rich countries annually before the future Copenhagen climate treaty takes effect in 2013. This funding proposed by the EU is meant to assist developing countries tackle urgent climate challenges.

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