Press release - 8 July, 2005
The G8 climate change communiqué issued by world leaders at their summit in Gleneagles today shows that Tony Blair has not succeeded in bringing the US back to the table. Instead it highlights the divisions between President Bush and the rest of the world on tackling climate change.
Thecommuniqué includes a statement affirming that the countries that havealready ratified Kyoto would work to make it a success. The US is not aParty to the Kyoto Protocol. The conference also saw a strongstatement from significant developing countries (the G5 - Brazil,China, India, Mexico and South Africa) supporting Kyoto and statingthat a real commitment to share sustainable energy technology withdeveloping countries is essential.
"The search for consensus means that we have ended up with a blandstatement without targets and timetables and without recognition of theurgency of the situation." said Greenpeace Climate Campaigner,Stephanie Tunmore "Thankfully twelve of the countries attending thissummit have emphasized the need for tough targets to reduce CO2emissions. Bush remains isolated and alone in his refusal to act."
"However, there are still opportunities for real progress. The Partiesto the Kyoto Protocol will hold their first meeting in Montreal inNovember The other seven G8 leaders need to strengthen theinternational position on the urgency of climate change and need toimplement strict targets."
"The failure of the G8 to speed up measures to tackle climate changewill undermine development in Africa. G8 nations have failed to'join-the-dots' between climate change and Africa and the poorest inAfrica will pay the price," says Tunmore.
Africa lives on the front line of global warming. Seventy per cent ofAfricans rely on mostly rain-fed agriculture for their livelihoods.Climate change is already disrupting these vital rains - bringing moredroughts, floods and hunger.
Greenpeace rejected the G8's push to liberalize markets innon-agricultural products, which include fish and forest products onwhich many of the poorest communities in the world depend. Greenpeacealso criticized as inadequate the G8 agreement on illegal logging.
Other contacts: Louise Edge, Greenpeace UK press officer, + 447801 212993.Stephanie Tunmore, Greenpeace International climate campaigner, + 44 77 96 947 451Daniel Mittler, Greepeace International political advisor, (including trade, aid and debt), +49 171 876 5345Cecilia Goin, Greenpeace International media officer, + 31 6 212 96 908
VVPR info: Photos on climate impacts in Africa available upon request, John Novis, + 31 6 538 19 121
Exp. contact date: 2005-07-13 00:00:00