We express our grave concern about the devastating effects of
climate change. Climate change will cause extreme droughts, water
crises, food shortages, wars, mass migrations, sea level rises,
extreme weather events and flooding on a scale unheard of since the
story of Noah was first told. All natural life on this planet will
irreversibly alter, destroying the lives and livelihoods of
billions of persons.
As our public leaders, we hold you responsible for averting this
impending disaster.
We remind you, that your mandate is to protect our lives, homes,
our communities and our natural resources from both man-made and
natural threats. You shall not, either in policy or deed, do
anything which imperils the wellbeing of those whom you represent.
We deem leadership without such ability or commitment to be
meaningless and void.
We call on you to urgently co-operate globally to avert this
catastrophic climate change, which can only be achieved if global
warming is kept below a 2 °C increase above pre-industrial levels.
This requires immediate implementation of a radical program to halt
the rise of greenhouse gas emissions within the next ten to fifteen
years. Furthermore you must resolutely commit to reduce global
greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% from 1990 levels by
2050.
All states, cities and other communities under your
responsibility must proactively and without delay contribute to
these global emission reductions in any way they can. They can not
and shall not wait for others to take desirable or needed measures.
The minimal contribution of each must be defined equitably, as a
function of their historic contribution to climate change and
mitigation capacity.
Therefore, we call on industrialized states to lead this global
program, realizing at least an 80-90 percent cut of their 1990
emissions by 2050.
In the face of climate change we ask that you:
1. Explictly accept and enforce the fundamental right of every
person under your responsibility to protection of his security of
life, home, health, community and access to vital natural
resources.
2. Explicitly accept and enforce your obligation to inform any
person under your responsibility of the threat to his security that
climate change poses and of your contribution to its global
mitigation.
3. Effect an 'Energy Revolution' by a radical program of
efficiency measures and the comprehensive uptake of and investment
in renewable energy. By 2050 over half of global energy needs must
be met by sustainable renewables. In addition, nuclear and
inefficient fossil fuels energy infrastructure will urgently be
decomissioned globally, all involved subsidies and investments to
be discontinued.
4. Make sustainable, renewable energy available to everyone. A
quarter of the world's population currently has no access to a
modern energy supply, driving and sustaining poverty.
5. Educate, empower and guide all communities, individuals,
corporations and other entities under your responsibility to bring
about any changes of behavior, regulation, products and processes
which equitably, effectively and sustainably contribute to climate
change mitigation.
6. Refrain and effectively, peacefully dissuade others to
refrain from the operation of dangerous and destabilizing forms of
energy production such as those which involve nuclear
technology.
7. Immediately enter into an agreement under the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol. This
agreement will oblige states to implement these climate change
mitigation principles, measures and targets and create an effective
monitoring and enforcement mechanism.
8. Provide access to effective legal remedy to all persons,
communities, organizations and states affected by climate change or
representing those who are affected.
Greenpeace May 31, 2007