"The breakup of this ice shelf is in vivid contrast to the glacial pace of the international climate negotiations, where governments are trying to avoid acting responsibly - and bickering about who's at fault," said Carroll Muffett, Greenpeace USA Deputy Campaigns Director.
"We need real leadership in Bonn, starting with a commitment from industrialized countries to cut carbon emissions by 40 percent by 2020 and followed by concrete measures to support efforts to reduce carbon emissions in developing countries."
This year's series of talks are due to culminate in a global deal at December's Climate Summit in Copenhagen.
"As climate change in the real world becomes more visible by the day, the rarefied bubble of the climate talks continues to produce nothing but hot air. This has got to change."
For further information/interviews
In the US:
Carroll Muffett 202-425-2934
Mike Crocker: 202-215-8989
In Bonn:
Cindy Baxter: ++31 646 197 332
Stephanie Tunmore: ++44 7796 947 451 mobile
In the UK:
Dr Paul Johnston, Head of the Greenpeace International Science Labs,
+44
7813890492
Notes to editors:
(1) quoting British Antarctic Survey:
The Wilkins Ice shelf in Antarctica after a progressive decline and retreat over some years is now threatened with further collapse of the "ice bridge," which is the last connection to Charcot Island and which pins the remainder of the shelf in place.
This may result in destabilisation and a total collapse of the shelf.
It is probable that the current reduction in ice-shelves in the region has no precedent in the last 10,000 years, and certain that this minimum has not been reached at any time in the last millennium.
Since the ice-shelves are floating, their collapse will not in itself contribute to sea level rise. Nonetheless, any resultant increase in the "flow" of inland glaciers due to the loss of the shelves, together with increased meltwater runoff will add to sea level rise.