Greenpeace Protests G8 Inaction on Climate Change
Greenpeace activists in Italy and the U.S. staged protests today as leaders of the eight richest nations began the latest G8 summit in L’Aquila Italy.
At least 100 activists in Italy occupied four coal-fired plants to demand action from world leaders to avert the worst consequences of global warming.
Greenpeace said that G8 leaders must “stop putting the interests of polluting industries such as coal ahead of the climate.”
“The sort of action G8 leaders are putting on the table regarding climate change would lead to more greenhouse gas- polluting power stations like this one,” Greenpeace protester Julien Vincent said by phone from a platform about 650 feet up a chimney at a coal plant in Brindisi, Italy where “carbon dioxide is belching out” at an alarming rate.
Vincent refers to backtracking from the commitment of major nations to cut greenhouse gas emissions 50% by 2050.
Climate rift between developed and developing nations
Talks broke down overnight at the 17-nation Major Economies Forum (MEF) working to forge a draft agreement securing a U.N. climate pact after China and India rejected any mention of the emissions targets in the document. At issue is the lack of mid-term goals from rich developed nations, and no promise of financial assistance or technology transfer to help developing nations meet any such emissions targets.
“For any long-term goals there have to be credible mid-term goals in the range of 25-40 percent (over 1990 levels),” said Dinesh Patnaik, an Indian negotiator present at Tuesday’s talks. Thus far, G8 nations have promised emissions cuts ranging from 10-14% over 1990 levels, far short of the 40% sought by developing nations.
For their part, G8 nations remain publicly optimistic that a deal can be reached at the COP15 climate conference in Copenhagen this December:
“We intend to secure our present and future prosperity by taking the lead in the fight against climate change. We call upon other industrialized countries and emerging economies to actively engage, consistently with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities,” they said in a joint statement.
Greenpeace activists aren’t so sure. In concert with the protests in Italy, a group of Greenpeace protesters managed to climb up Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota, unfurling a banner next to the visage of Abraham Lincoln that says “America honors leaders, not politicians: Stop Global Warming”
See also: Breaking: Greenpeace Activists Scale and Occuppy Mt. Rushmore
Image credit: Greenpeace.org
