Greenpeace brands G8 summit a climate failure, and calls for real action at UN

Heiligendamm, Germany — The G8 have failed to take the necessary action to halt dangerous climate change. The final deal is full of weasel words like ’seriously consider’ but fails to agree the essential targets. Not taking action to halve global greenhouse gas emission by 2050, compared to 1990 levels, spells disaster for billions. Greenpeace, however, welcomed the fact that G8 have cleared the path for the next round of binding emission cuts to be set at the United Nations.

“The G8 have clearly failed to deliver what is necessary at Heiligendamm” said Daniel Mittler, Greenpeace International climate policy expert. “But the door is now open for the UN to take a lead in agreeing the binding targets the world desperately needs. In order for these negotiations to succeed, the seven Kyoto members of the G8 must now independently commit to reducing their emissions by 30% by 2020, and 80-90% by 2050. Merkel must further take real leadership and commit Germany to minus 40% by 2020.”

“Only by making such commitments can these leaders have any credibility in the fight to prevent disastrous climate change which is the greatest global security, humanitarian and environmental threat of our time”

Greenpeace also condemned the lack of action to stop tropical deforestation, which is responsible for up to 25% of global CO2 emissions, second only to the energy sector.

“The G8 say they want to save the climate but failed to address deforestation, one of the key causes of climate change. They failed to set targets to halt deforestation and to provide the necessary money to keep trees standing” said Martin Kaiser, Greenpeace International forest expert.