Global Greens forum on December 13 to address global warming during UN Copenhagen Climate Conference
Green Party Of The United States
For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Green Party leaders from around the world to participate; US Greens challenge Obama to stop appeasing corporate
polluters and peddling inadequate measures
Green Party Speakers Bureau: US Greens available to speak on ecological sustainability and global warming
http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-ecological.php
WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders from every corner of the globe will participate in a public forum in Copenhagen,
Denmark, on Sunday, December 13, during the United Nations Copenhagen Climate Conference.
Titled "Copenhagen and beyond: delivering a meaningful deal on climate change" (http://www.globalgreens.org/event/copenhagen_climate_change), the Global Greens event will take place 6 pm at Klimaforum09, DGI-byen, Tietgensgade 65, 1704 København. The forum
is the only time they will speak together on one stage, outlining their views on what a meaningful climate agreement is
and how it can be achieved.
With the outcome of the UN climate talks in Copenhagen uncertain; this forum will give a Green perspective on how a
meaningful and sufficient global deal on climate change can be reached before it is too late. The leading Green
politicians participating in the forum advocate a strong climate treaty and will play important roles in decision-making
at all levels.
"Copenhagen is up against real deadline, not just those set by international diplomats," said Elizabeth May leader of
the Green Party of Canada (http://www.greenparty.ca). "The real deadlines are in the risk of run-away global warming...The atmosphere is not negotiating with humanity. To
save ourselves and future generations, GHG levels globally must stop rising no later than 2016. Copenhagen cannot be
allowed to fail."
In December 2007, Global Greens, representing 70 Green Parties and Green groups (http://www.globalgreens.org), including the Green Party of the United States, issued a declaration on reduction of greenhouse gases that called for
establishment "of a binding regime for global greenhouse gas reductions which is consistent with avoiding dangerous
climate change" (http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2007_12_07.shtml). See also "Global Greens Second Congress 2008 -- Climate Change -- Time for Transformation Declaration" (http://www.globalgreens.org/brazil2008/declarations/climate_change_time_for_transformation).
"President Obama must step up to the plate in Copenhagen and provide leadership. The US has been the main culprit in
climate change, remaining the world's worst emitter of greenhouse gases, blocking international action, and protecting
corporate polluters. We're relieved that Mr. Obama has dropped the Bush Administration's policy of denial. But the Obama
Administration's priority is still stage management -- providing political cover while proposing to do too little too
late and peddling the woefully inadequate climate change bills pending in Congress," said said Mike Feinstein, co-chair
of the Green Party of the United States and former mayor of Santa Monica, California. Mr. Feinstein attended the
December 2007 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Bali (http://unfccc.int/2860.php); in 2001, during his tenure, Santa Monica became the first US city to use 100% renewable energy for all municipal
facilities.
US Greens have called for an end to subsidies and tax breaks to fossil and nuclear energy industries; enactment of
socially equitable carbon taxes; incentives, legislation, and reforms to provide renewable energy technologies;
rejection of environmentally destructive 'alternative' fuels produced from unsustainable or toxic feedstocks; rejection
of 'clean coal'; comprehensive planning to protect and conserve water resources; an absolute limit on CO2 emissions;
reduced fossil fuel use and an 80% cutback within ten years.
Earlier this week, the Environmental Protection Agency -- confirming the Green Party's warnings -- called greenhouse gas
emissions a severe threat to public health and urged strong regulatory measures to curb global warming, without
congressional action if necessary (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091207/ap_on_go_ot/us_epa_climate).
Greens in the US insisted that there is "no climate security without peace, no peace without climate security" and said
that the current US wars, especially President Obama's troop escalation plans for Afghanistan, and global military
spending (about $1.4 trillion per year, at least half from the US) are impediments to worldwide cooperation in the fight
against climate change.
Program for December 13:
Moderation and introduction by Monica Frassoni, spokesperson of the European Green Party
Welcome from Socialistisk Folkeparti, member of Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament
Rebecca Harms, co-president of the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament
Marina Silva, the Brazilian Green Party’s potential presidential candidate; former Environment Minister of Brazil
Wangari Maathai, Nobel Laureate, Kenyan Green; former deputy Environment Minister of Kenya (to be confirmed)
José Bové, renowned global environmental activist, Green Member of the European Parliament and former spokesperson of the French
small farmers’ association
Christine Milne, Australian Green Senator and Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens
Elizabeth May, Canadian Green Party leader; former Executive Director of the Sierra Club of Canada
Catherine Grèze, French Green Member of the European Parliament, will facilitate a discussion with the audience.
ENDS