The Icelandic singer used her spot at a climate change conference in Brussels to give an impassioned speech warning about the risks of allowing the economic crisis to override environmental regulation.
In her home country, Iceland, thermal energy from the volcanic system that makes Iceland one of the youngest countries in the world has also created a thriving industry in aluminium smelting. The three largest smelters in Europe are sited there, and Alcoa and Rio Tinto both have substantial investments in the Icelandic economy.
Now some Icelandic MPs want to sideline environmental assessment so that new geothermal dams can be built – allowing two further processing plants to draw on the geothermal energy created. Björk fears that allowing one industry to ignore environmental guidelines could lead to a Europe-wide failure to stick to climate change targets.
In Iceland, currently facing a 20% inflation rate, and where 1,500 of the 300,000 population work in the aluminium industry, her comments have been seen by some as a betrayal of the country’s economic needs.
Europe shows confusion on economics versus environment
Across Europe, the affect of the economic downturn on environmental issues has been mixed. In 2007 the European Union agreed the 20-20-20 programme: by 2020 member states would aim to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20%, increase renewable energy use by 20% and improve energy efficiency by 20%. In less than a year since the agreement was signed, some countries are pushing forward, like the UK which has hardened its 2050 energy targets, while others are already saying it can’t be done: Germany and Ireland want more flexibility than the current targets allow, while Italy is saying the cost is too great and it simply won’t be able to meet them without finding an additional 18 billion Euros a year in revenue.
Iceland could be the test case – if its MPs decide to promote economic wellbeing over environmental initiatives, the 20-20-20 targets could be over before they begin.
Bjork courtesy of thetripwirenyc at Flickr under a Creative Commons Licence
[...] musician joined the Nattura campaign to protect Iceland’s environment and spoke against Iceland’s aluminum industry, saying [...]