INDEPENDENT NEWS

Greenpeace Takes Northstar Battle To BP Boardroom

Published: Thu 13 Apr 2000 07:13 PM
GREENPEACE TAKES ITS OPPOSITION TO NORTHSTAR TO THE BP AMOCO BOARDROOM
AUCKLAND April 13, 2000 – A coalition of environmentalists and investors from Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom, have combined to challenge BP Amoco's lack of action on climate change at the company’s Annual General Meeting in London at 11am, 13 April (UK time).
"The battle to save the Arctic from climate change and oil exploration is heading to the boardroom. This resolution is intended to send a strong signal to the BP Board that they must make a fundamental shift in their investment strategy if they are to successfully manage the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy," said Greenpeace spokesperson Matthew Spencer.
Shareholders vote (at 11pm tonight New Zealand time) at BP Amoco's AGM at the Royal Festival Hall, London, on a resolution, initiated by Greenpeace with partners Trillium Asset Management Corporation and the US Public Interest Research Group.
The resolution calls on the company to abandon its Northstar project, the first offshore oil production facility in the Arctic Ocean, and to end attempts to open the US Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil drilling. It also calls for the funds from Northstar's cancellation to be redirected to BP Amoco's solar subsidiary company, BP Solarex.
Currently BP's investment in renewable energy equals about three days of
its annual oil and gas spending.
The influential Pension and Investment Research Consultants (PIRC) has recommended in a report to its clients, which include some of the largest funds in the UK, to support the Greenpeace resolution. The Derbyshire
County Council Pension Fund and South Yorkshire Pension Fund have
announced they will support the resolution while Birmingham City Council Fund has said it will show its disapproval of BP by abstaining from a vote on the motion.
Greenpeace set up Ice Camp Sirius on February 12, just 1.5 miles from the BP Amoco Northstar project on the frozen Arctic Ocean, to protest against exploring for more climate destroying oil. On April 11 (NZ time) New Zealander Tanya Popp was arrested and charged with trespass, whilst trying to stop BP Amoco from laying an oil pipeline.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sue Connor, Greenpeace New Zealand on (021) 213 5603 or (09) 630 6317. Or to contact Greenpeace in London during the AGM contact Jon Walter on + 44 - 171-8658255 or 00-31-653 504731
For a copy of the resolution contact Sue Connor at Greenpeace New Zealand.
Greenpeace New Zealand
Greenpeace exists because this fragile earth deserves a voice.
Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organisation that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace.

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