EU PLAYING POLITICS ON CLIMATE FINANCE COULD JEOPARDISE UN DEAL, SAY GREENS

The European Commission today published its proposals setting out a framework for financing of international climate efforts, including the role of the EU. Commenting on the Commission's international climate finance proposals, UK Green MEP Caroline Lucas said:

"With around 100 days to go to the end of the UN climate summit in Copenhagen, the EU urgently needs to adopt a concrete position on climate change financing for developing countries. Unfortunately, the proposals published by the Commission could jeopardise the negotiations by trying to heap a disproportionate share of the burden onto developing countries.

"The Commission's estimations on the required amount of climate financing for developing countries are on the low side (€66-80bn per annum) compared with other recent estimations. On top of this, the Commission claims that only €22-50bn per annum (by 2020) should be accounted for by public financing. This figure is clearly artificially low and smacks of politicking, with the negotiations in mind. Setting the figure too low could jeopardise the commitment of developing countries to a UN climate deal.

"The Commission calculates that EU share of the responsibility for international public financing for climate efforts in developing countries could be 10-30%. Clearly, it needs to be close to the top end of this scale to realistically reflect the responsibility of the EU, based on its historical emissions and its ability to pay, not just its share of current emissions.

"Overall, the underlying assumptions show that the Commission sees most of the global emissions reductions by 2020 taking place in developing countries. This is a clear renouncement of EU's purported leadership on climate change and ignores the EU's responsibility.

"The EU has committed to the goal of limiting global warming to less than 2 degrees. If it is serious, it will need to urgently step up its effort, committing to domestic emissions reductions of at least 40% by 2020, as well as climate financing in the region of €35bn. Anything less risks making the 2 degree goal completely unattainable and thereby opens the door to dangerous climate change."

Lord Mandelson & China’s Premier Advance Business, Climate Agenda

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson, was received by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao for an hour-long meeting in Beijing today (CST).

Premier Wen praised "the tremendous contribution made by Lord Mandelson in strengthening and deepening EU-China and UK-China relations over many years."

The meeting was very friendly and warm and focused on a number of areas including strengthening co-ordination between the UK and China ahead of the forthcoming G20 Summit in Pittsburgh.

Both sides agreed on the need to keep markets open and resist any temptation to erect barriers to free trade. They were very clear that protectionism was not in the world's interest and agreed on the enormous importance of concluding the Doha world trade talks as soon as possible.

Lord Mandelson, who was accompanied to the meeting by a British business delegation which has been with him throughout his visit to China, also stressed the importance of further work to allow companies to list and invest on each other's Stock Exchanges.

Lord Mandelson and Premier Wen were united on deepening and strengthening co-operation between their two countries, Premier Wen recognising that China now invested more in the UK than in any other European economy and that Britain invested more in China than any other European country.

On climate change Lord Mandelson urged greater co-operation given the importance of December's Copenhagen Climate Change Summit and the business opportunities which flow from the production of green technologies and goods. He also urged China to agree a carbon emissions target. Premier Wen said China would work hard for success at Copenhagen.

In the context of EU-China relations both regretted the lack of progress in relation to Market Economy Status (MES).

GIBSON ASKS PARLIAMENT TO INVESTIGATE FOSSIL FUEL LOGJAM

MARINE ENERGY REPORT BACKS FUEL LEVY ACCESS

SNP MSP and Member of the Scottish Parliament’s Committees on Energy and Climate Change Rob Gibson has today urged Parliament to hold an inquiry into Scottish access to the £150 million of money accumulated on Scotland’s behalf as a result of the Fossil Fuel Levy.

Mr Gibson’s call comes after a report suggested there could be 12,500 jobs in marine renewables which could contribute £2.5 billion to Scotland's economy by 2020. The reports recommendations included “the release of the Fossil Fuel Levy surplus funds to help promote renewables in Scotland.”

There is at least £150 million held by the UK under the Fossil Fuel Levy that should accrue to Scotland. Due to Treasury rules any transfer of the money to Scotland would see the Scottish Government’s budget cut by the same amount – meaning no actual funding increase.

Mr Gibson, Deputy Convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Economy, Energy and Tourism committee and a member of the Parliament’s Climate Change Committee said;

“I want to find a way for Scotland to prise open the door of this bank vault and start investing this money in Scotland’s green future.

“As the recent report into marine renewable potential made clear we could generate over 12,500 jobs from investment in marine technology alone. Access to the Fossil Fuel Levy is a key part of realising that investment.

“There is universal agreement that, but for Treasury rules, this money should be being invested in Scotland’s green energy industry. We have been stuck at a logjam for years now – despite repeated Scottish Government efforts.

“I want to see the Energy Committee, which has previously recommended releasing the funds, take evidence on the value of this money and the reasons it cannot be accessed . We must look at ways we can release this money for Scottish investment.

“This £150 million of potential investment is sitting in a bank account in London when it could be being supporting Scotland’s green energy potential, creating jobs and working for our future.

“Scotland has vast potential when it comes to marine renewable energy.

“With over 12,500 potential new jobs in the industry we can not afford to let this opportunity pass.”

Nike agree to stop buying Amazon leather following Greenpeace report

The global sportswear company Nike has announced that it is to stop buying leather from the Amazon region of Brazil, following concerns that its shoes and trainers could be driving the destruction of the world's largest rainforest and contributing to climate change.

The move follows a Greenpeace report, released in June, which exposed how cattle hides from deforested areas were contaminating the supply chains of a number of global brands including Nike, Clarks, Adidas and Reebok. Deforestation for cattle ranching in Brazil alone is now the biggest driver of deforestation anywhere in the world.

A Nike spokesman will release the new company policy at their headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon at 1700 UK time. A host of British sports stars are sponsored by Nike and wear their products, including Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, and the entire English Rugby Union team.

Reacting to the news, Greenpeace forest campaigner Sarah Shoraka said:

"Nike has recognised that trampling over the Amazon rainforest to produce leather for its trainers is an unacceptable way of doing business. Preparing land for cattle ranching is now the single biggest cause of deforestation in the world and a major driver of climate change.

"Nike has taken a bold step, and now we need to see other companies follow their lead."

The Greenpeace report has already caused significant movement within the Brazilian cattle industry, and it is hoped that Nike's decision will help pave the way for an industry wide moratorium on the destruction of forests for cattle ranching. Greenpeace is demanding that other shoe companies such as Reebok, Clarks and Adidas follow Nike's lead and support a moratorium.

The policy document that Nike signed today requires all of its suppliers "to certify that they are supplying leather for Nike Inc. products from cattle raised outside the Amazon biome." This policy will be in place until Nike feels that a reliable system of governance -with full traceability of cattle products which includes the guarantee that those products are not causing deforestation - in place in the Amazon.

These suppliers then have until July 2010 to create a fully traceable supply system, which will provide reliable proof that any leather used for Nike shoes has not been sourced from recently deforested areas.

The Greenpeace report, entitled Slaughtering the Amazon was released on June 1^st. It can be viewed at http://www.greenpeace.org/international/press/reports/slaughtering-the-amazon

The Nike policy is available to view at http://www.nikebiz.com/media/pr/2009/07/22_AmazonLeatherPolicy.html

WEIR CALLS FOR ACTION TO DEVELOP OFFSHORE RENEWABLE SKILLS

SNP Westminster Energy spokesperson Mike Weir MP has called on the UK Government to take action to ensure that the skills developed in the North Sea Oil and Gas Industry are utilised to develop a new industry in offshore renewable energy generation.

Speaking at Energy and Climate Change questions Mr Weir drew attention to the report from the departmental Select Committee, of which he is a member, which noted the potential for the crossover.

Commenting Mr Weir said:

“Over the last four decades the North Sea Oil and Gas industry has built up huge expertise is working in a very hostile environment in construction, development and supply.

“As offshore wind energy becomes increasingly important those skills can be transferred to provide a new offshore renewable industry and jobs far into the future.”

Mr Weir also pointed out that onshore skills in construction could also play a vital part in the future industry.

Mr Weir added:

“When committee members recently met the wind turbine manufacturer Vestas they indicated that the type of turbine needed off shore was very different from those used on shore. This provides a huge opportunity for the skills developed in rig manufacture to also be utilised to provide green jobs for the future.

“It is vital that the UK government does not allow this potential business opportunity to go overseas. If we are to meet our challenging renewable energy targets then we will increasingly develop offshore wind, giving a huge opportunity to transfer skills and create new jobs.”

Labour is "losing the eco-war," says Sustainable Development Commission

The government's own sustainability commission has once again vindicated the long-standing Green Party critique of the Labour government, said the Greens today.

According to media reports, a new document to be published this Wednesday (1 July) by the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) will argue that the government is "winning a few battles but losing the war" on matters like climate change.

Sir Jonathan Porritt, outgoing chair of the SDC, yesterday issued a powerful parting salvo against the government in the pages of the Independent on Sunday. Sir Jonathan said: "We have a terrible record of leading the world on rhetoric and then failing to deliver in our own backyard, and that's particularly true on climate change."

Responding today, Green Party leader Caroline Lucas MEP said the SDC's remarks were entirely justifiable:

"Tony Blair came to power promising the first ever green government, but it took him four years even to make a major speech about sustainability. By that time he was forging ahead with a £30 billion roadbuilding programme and encouraging airport expansions everywhere. One of his flagship green policies was a plan for 3,000 solar roofs within three years, at a time when Germany was aiming for a million and delivering thousands every month.

"Movement on the sustainability agenda has always been hindered by Labour's business-as-usual mentality. A lot of problems could be solved if only the government would accept responsibility for making sure things happen that urgently need to happen, instead of using market forces as an excuse for the failure of policy. For instance, we still produce little more offshore wind energy than Denmark, a country one-tenth of our size, and England's only wind turbine factory has just announced its closure. Labour is talking big and acting small, as always."

"Labour doesn't get it"

The Green Party leader, who hopes to win the Greens' first Westminster seat in the coming general election, said the Labour government had never understood the need to green the economy - nor the potential benefits of doing so. She said:

"Labour simply doesn't get it. Gordon Brown launched a so-called green stimulus package, but as the New Economics Foundation quickly pointed out it was in fact only 0.6 per cent actual new green investment. It was supposed to tackle the recession, but it included nuclear and so-called "clean coal," neither of which will deliver jobs in time to help deal with the recession. Green policies for renewables would start delivering large numbers of jobs immediately and in the long run would create far more jobs per megawatt than either nuclear or coal."

Seven years ago ago the Green Party published a critique of Labour's eco-policies titled Far More Spin Than Substance - and the Greens would say this still sums up Labour's eco-policy.

It's not just eco-policy but social and economic policy too...

The Greens believe Britain needs MPs at Westminster, partly to deliver the strong critique of the government's sustainability policy from within the House of Commons - but also because Labour no longer represents a progressive option. Dr Lucas said today:

"Labour has always lagged behind both the climate science and the Green Party's policies for tackling climate change. Significantly, the Green Party is also proposing far more job-creation through our million-jobs manifesto than Labour is through all of their proposals. While Labour has failed to get its head round sustainability, it has also lost its original principles about a fairer economy. Anything that used to be radical and progressive about the Labour Party can be found at the core of Green Party policy, while Labour is still way behind the Green Party on modernising the economy for a sustainable future."

She concluded: "The raison d'etre that Labour used to have now belongs to the Green Party."

Labour's approach to climate change

The UK Climate Projections 2009, released today, will help us plan and prepare for change to our climate in the UK.

By acting now, we can limit the severity of climate change in the future.

Labour’s approach to tackling climate change centres on protecting the public from immediate risk, preparing for the future, leading international efforts to get a global deal in Copenhagen in December, creating a low carbon UK and supporting individuals, communities and businesses to play their part.

Labour's Environment Secretary, Hilary Benn, said:

"There is no doubt about it – climate change is the biggest challenge facing the world today. Climate change is already happening – the hottest ten years on record globally have all been since 1990. This landmark scientific evidence shows not only that we need to tackle the causes of climate change but also that we must deal with the consequences.

"The Projections will allow us to make sure we have a resilient infrastructure to cope – whether it’s the design of school buildings or protection of new power plants, maintaining the supply of drinking water, adjusting ways of farming for drier summers or understanding how our homes and businesses will have to adapt."

(DEFRA) £11m to protect our seas from climate change

A five-year, £11million study into the effects of climate change on Britain's seas has been announced as scientists warn of more acidic seas affecting the food chain.

Ocean acidity, caused by increased amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the sea, has risen 30 per cent in the last 200 years, faster than any time in the last 65million years, with serious implications for sealife and our climate, according to a new report.

The sea absorbs CO2 in the atmosphere but over time as emissions have increased it has become more acidic, which means not only will it absorb less CO2 in future but that corals, plankton, shellfish and other vital links in the food chain will be under threat.

Now Defra is jointly funding a major research programme with the Natural Environment Research Councils (NERC). It will concentrate on the North East Atlantic, Antarctic and Arctic oceans and study the effects of acidification on biodiversity, habitats, species and wider socio-economic implications.

Huw Irranca-Davies, Minister for the Natural & Marine Environment, said: "Ocean acidification will be one of the biggest environmental concerns of this century, with major and far-reaching impacts.

"We need to understand much more about the scale and nature of the effect CO2 is having on our oceans and marine life."

The report by the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership, published today, also highlights how many small effects of climate change are being magnified through important links with the marine environment, and how distant events such as melting Arctic sea ice may affect people, wildlife and the environment here. For more information go to http://www.mccip.org.uk/elr.

The ocean acidification research programme is expected to run for five years, with NERC funding £7.7million and Defra contributing £2.5million in the first three years with a provisional commitment of £800,000 over two more years. For more details of the UK acidification programme go to: http://www.nerc.ac.uk/research/themes/earthsystem/events/ocean-acidification.asp.

Green MEP 'disappointed' by Euro-Parliament vote to 'let polluting industries off the hook' on air qualiti

The European Parliament today voted to revise EU legislation on industrial emissions - Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive. After the vote, Green MEP Caroline Lucas commented:

"While the outcome of today's vote on industrial pollution could have been even worse, sadly MEPs have voted to let some of the most polluting industries off the hook. Lobbying from oil, steel and chemical industry laggards unfortunately succeeded in duping a narrow majority of MEPs to support a last minute amendment.

"As a result, the EP has voted to exclude most of the manufacturing industry from the air quality limit values set out in the legislation for large combustion plants (1). This last minute amendment is blatantly against the aims and objectives of the directive, goes against a recent European Court of Justice ruling (2), and therefore I urge the Council and the Commission to ignore it.

South East MEP Dr Lucas continued: "However, while some of the provisions of the proposed directive have been weakened, the compromise agreed between groups contains a number of improvements, notably the establishment of a procedure to set EU-level limit values for specific sectors in addition to the ones already set in the Directive. Monitoring and inspection requirements have been improved. This sends a clear message that environmental dumping between Member States should not be tolerated and installations with clean track records should be rewarded.

"Thankfully, EPP amendments seeking to delete soil and groundwater monitoring and reporting requirements - as well as obligations for site restoration after closure - were rejected. Removing minimum requirements on these areas would have been irresponsible and would have encouraged a race to the bottom in national/local implementation.

"But regrettably, MEPs have agreed to constrain their own right of amendment on so-called recast proposals. Today this resulted in the President of the Parliament denying MEPs the possibility to vote for setting CO2 emission performance standards for large combustion plants, despite the fact that such measures are sorely needed to guard against investments into fossil combustion infrastructure which are incompatible with EU climate policy."