The message is clear: Greenpeace activists register their protest against the ADB funding of “Dirty” Coal Project by projecting slogans like this one during a dinner hosted by the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh for ADB delegate in Hyderabad.
Hyderabad, India – May 2, 2006 – Greenpeace activists from across Asia today converged in Hyderabad to demand that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) stop funding energy projects fuelling climate change in the region. Greenpeace denounced ADB hypocrisy even as it challenged the bank to exercise leadership in fighting climate change in Asia by shifting its energy financing solely towards renewable energy and energy efficiency projects and programs. Greenpeace will join over 150 other international NGOs to protest the ADB’s 39th Annual Meeting in Hyderabad from May 3-6.
Greenpeace is urging Bank governors, along with government and private sector delegates to the Annual Meeting, to tell the full story of the ADB’s footprint in the region, and to account for the whole of its ongoing coal funding in its balance sheet.
“It is the poorest in Asia who will be the hardest hit by climate change,” said K. Srinivas, Greenpeace Energy Campaigner. “The devastating impacts are already evident and they will only get worse unless we take action now. The Bank claims its mission to be poverty alleviation and sustainable development; hypocritically, it continues to fund coal projects fuelling climate change. The ADB’s choice is clear: continue to fund climate change or lead the fight against it in Asia.”
Greenpeace has a delegation inside the Annual General Meeting speaking at several key ADB seminars and engaged in solidarity activities with other NGOs from India and Asia led by the NGO Forum on the ADB. Joined by community leaders from villages in Thailand, Greenpeace is documenting the devastating impacts of ADB-financed coal-fueled power projects at the Annual General meeting in a week-long photo exhibit.
“Over the last 20 years, while spouting rhetoric calling for environmental protection, the ADB has approved loans for the Mae Moh monster plant (in Thailand) of more than US$ 352.3 million,” added Tara Buakamsri, Energy Campaigner with Greenpeace Southeast Asia in Bangkok. “The ADB must be held accountable for the damaging consequences of its actions. The development of the lignite mine and power plant at Mae Moh is directly responsible for mass respiratory illnesses, the destruction of livelihoods in the community and the displacement of countless villagers. It is a nursery of misery.”
It is not just the ADB Governors and officials who have a responsibility to ensure the ADB leads in the fight against climate change in Asia. The Bank’s governors are senior finance officials appointed by member governments. These governments must also drive this change within the ADB urgently. Greenpeace is urging these member countries to choose leadership in the fight against climate change.
Greenpeace will release daily information on its activities in Hyderabad and comment on developments at the ADB Annual Meeting, particularly on the ADB’s Sustainable Energy Seminar and policy.
Greenpeace is an independent, campaigning organisation that uses non-violent, creative confrontation to expose global environmental problems, and to force solutions essential to a green and peaceful future.
Contact information
For further information on Greenpeace activities in Hyderabad: www.greenpeaceindia.org/fundingclimatechange
To contact the Greenpeace delegation for further information:
Nayana Jayarajan, Greenpeace India Press Officer at: + 91 92900-07832 or +91-98808-21149