Greenpeace activists added their voice to the regional government's - calling on energy company Enel to shut down its coal-fired power plant in Genoa.
Activists entered the power plant, and climbers hung a banner
from Genoa's landmark "Torre della Lanterna" lighthouse. At the
same time, activists from our ship Arctic Sunrise painted "Quit
Coal" and "No Carbone" [No Coal] on the Ukrainian cargo ship
Aristea, as it offloaded coal at the port.
About the coal plant
The plant, built in 1928, was due to shut down in 2002, but the
previous Italian government, under Silvio Berlusconi, granted it an
extension until 2020, directly undermining the regional
authorities. Enel insists it will keep the plant open until this
date. Enel is Italy's single biggest climate polluter, and is
responsible for nearly a third of all CO2 emissions coming from
Italian electricity production.
"The Genoa plant is way past its retirement age. Keeping it open
directly contributes to the climate crisis and to local pollution,"
said Francesco Tedesco, Greenpeace Italy climate and energy
campaigner, from the scene. "The regional government has made it
clear that it wants Enel to close the plant down, and Greenpeace is
here today to make sure Enel listens."
The Liguria regional government's energy plan is one of the few
in Italy to be
applauded. Greenpeace is encouraging it to push through its
renewable energy plans.
"It is scandalous that Enel ignores the requests of the Liguria
authorities," said Agnes de Rooij, Greenpeace International climate
and energy campaigner onboard the Arctic Sunrise. "There is no
excuse for keeping this massively polluting coal-fired power plant
open, especially when clean, safe wind and solar power are able to
produce the
same amount of electricity."
Ciao Italy, Quit Coal tour continues
with the Rainbow Warrior
The crew of the Arctic Sunrise and Greenpeace Italy activists
have had a busy and successful ten days in Italy, challenging the
coal industry.
They kicked it off by occupying a crane at a coal plant
construction site near Rome, on October 16th. Other activists
painted, "No Carbone" on the power plant's dock.
Meanwhile, the Italian government was trying block important
climate change agreements being discussed by the European Union.
We helped turn up the heat on them in Brussels and back home.
After two days of talks, the Italian government lost. EU leaders
confirmed their commitment to finalise the climate and energy
package before international climate negotiations take place in
December.
Next, activists blockaded an E.ON coal plant in Sardinia -
stopping the two conveyor belts delivering coal into the furnace.
We met with the regional environmental minister - while climbers
maintained a 14-hour occupation of the conveyor belt.
We talked to the minister about how Sardinia should be investing
in renewable energy instead of pushing more coal. He agreed and
promised the regional government would revise its energy plans to
meet EU climate protection targets.
After this victory, we decided to show some support for a
regional government that was already trying to do the right thing.
Hopefully, today's action will get Enel to listen, and shut down
its coal plant near Genoa.
The Quit Coal expedition
Time is running short. Quitting coal is essential to a
meaningful deal to save the climate. European governments need to
show leadership by phasing-out coal in their own countries. Our Energy
[R]evolution shows how renewable energy, combined with greater
energy efficiency, can cut global CO2 emissions by 50 percent and
deliver half the world's energy needs by 2050.
Today's protests are part of a four-month tour by our ships
Rainbow Warrior and Arctic Sunrise. Bringing the "Quit Coal"
message to the Mediterranean and Europe. Our Quit Coal expedition
is happening in the run-up to crucial UN climate negotiations in
Poznan, Poland, this December.
Get involved
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