Amsterdam – The G20 Summit, to be held in Seoul this week, looks as though it may even back-track on previous statements on climate.
“This G20 is supposed to give a strong signal of support for the upcoming climate talks in Cancun, but instead we understand there are moves afoot to back-track on commitments made a year ago,” said Patricia Lerner, Greenpeace International Senior Political Advisor.
The international environmental organization issued a checklist (1) of four key criteria for a successful G20, calling for leaders to honour their promises on climate, and to close the gap between current industrialized country emission reduction commitments and what the climate science demands.
Leaders must also create the financial and regulatory conditions that incentivize a green economy, and agree on the indicators and reporting mechanisms needed to monitor progress.
Another key issue committed to by G20 leaders in Pittsburgh last year and reported on in Toronto earlier this year, was the phase-out of subsidies to the fossil fuel industry. Greenpeace released an initial investigation into Government subsidies to the deepwater oil extraction industry in five countries: Brazil, Canada, Mexico, the UK and the US (2).
The report, written by the Global Subsidies Initiative, reveals a lack of transparency around these subsidies, and finds that governments are still providing far too little information for a proper public debate on high-cost oil subsidies to take place.
It points out that policies to meet energy-specific goals, as well as job creation and industrial development, should maximize benefits across complex energy, economic and environmental systems, not just specific oil projects, as is often the case. The review recommends that the discussion of the issue needs to shift away from what, at this point, is a mere discussion on revenue maximization from specific oil projects.
Greenpeace’s final call to the G20 leaders is that they must agree to switch priorities from subsidizing fossil fuels to the fast-tracking of significant funds so the world’s poorest countries can adapt to climate change, switch to a clean energy economies and stop deforestation. This finance needs to be both new and additional.
“These governments have a choice: they can lead the world to a clean energy future, safe from the ravages of climate change – or they can continue to subsidize the oil industry and accept the human and economic consequences of dangerous climate change. Do taxpayers really want their hard earned money squandered on subsidizing high risk ventures when there are safer, cleaner options?” Lerner asked.
Notes:
(2) See report online – with Greenpeace media briefing: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/publications/reports/G20-Summit-Seoul-2010-/ (link to both)
About Greenpeace
Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organisation that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. Greenpeace is present in 40 countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa and the Pacific. Greenpeace has been campaigning against environmental degradation since 1971. To maintain its independence, Greenpeace does not accept donations from governments or corporations but relies on contributions from individual supporters and foundation grants. For more information, visit www.greenpeace.org.
