Tuesday 14 May 2002: Greenpeace New Zealand today released a report ‘A Decade of Dirty Tricks” outlining Exxon/Mobil’s
undermining of United States climate change policy. Greenpeace also released letters demanding BP and Shell withdraw
their support for anti-Kyoto forces inside New Zealand.
“Exxon/Mobil’s attempts to wreck the Kyoto Protocol using front groups and climate sceptics highlights the enormous
influence oil companies have on climate change policy,” said Robbie Kelman, Greenpeace Climate Campaigner.
“The United States withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol as a result of industry pressure endangers the global treaty
designed to deal with climate change.”
The letters to BP and Shell demand they withdraw from the New Zealand Climate Change Pan Industry Group (CCPIG), an
industry lobby group which has lead a campaign against New Zealand ratifying the Kyoto Protocol and developing effective
domestic policy responses to climate change.
“BP and Shell are members of the CCPIG yet both companies have recognised the economic benefits of reducing greenhouse
emissions and the need to move away from intensive fossil fuel use,” said Kelman.
“BP and Shell’s hypocrisy is difficult to understand. Both these companies need to set the record straight in New
Zealand. They need to withdraw from the Pan Industry Group and clearly state their positions on climate change.
“Exxon/Mobil have led industry efforts for the US to withdraw from the Kyoto climate change agreement. This report is a
wake up call to New Zealanders that polluters are playing an active role in shaping Government policy on the
environment”, said Kelman.
Ends