Media release - March 8, 2007
Greenpeace supporters held a demonstration in Sao Paulo as Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met with U.S. President Bush to discuss biofuels and ethanol. The environmental group is urging the leaders to discuss the solutions to the global climate crisis and not be distracted from the necessary next steps- in the U.S.: a cap on U.S. carbon emissions and increased fuel efficiency for U.S. vehicles. In Brazil, concrete next steps following the government's ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, and a plan of action for the major source of global warming pollution in Brazil- Amazon deforestation. Greenpeace activists occupied a large stone monument in Sao Paulo and unfurled a banner reading "Bush and Lula- Ethanol is Not Enough. Stop Global Warming."
"The United States is a laggard on this issue, and the largest
emitter of greenhouse gases on the planet," said John Coequyt,
energy campaigner with Greenpeace USA. "The U.S. government must
take a giant leap forward quickly in order to make the necessary
steps to combat global warming. An aggressive focus on ethanol,
without a federally mandated cap on emissions, is simply a leap
sideways," he added.
Brazil is currently the world's fourth largest polluter, with
75% of its emissions coming from deforestation of the Amazon
forest. Although the Brazilian government ratified the Kyoto
Protocol, the country has not yet committed to concrete targets to
reduce its emissions. Greenpeace is adamant that increased
production of ethanol in Brazil for its own supply and for export
needs closer scrutiny.
"Brazil must address the need for stronger environmental,
agricultural and labor laws for ethanol production for what will no
doubt become a booming industry," said Rebeca Lerer of Greenpeace
Brazil. "No deforestation, conversion of intact ecosystems or
expansion into areas used for food crops should be accepted for
biofuels production, since Brazil will never be able to end the
U.S. oil addiction."
VVPR info: steve.smith@wdc.greenpeace.org
Exp. contact date: 2007-04-08 00:00:00