WWF - COP17

The Kiruna Ministerial Meeting of the Arctic Council – WWF input

2013-05-03

WWF has played a constructive role as Observer at the Arctic Council since it was formed in 1996. In the past two years of the Swedish chairmanship, we have added capacity, advice and input to a variety of Arctic Council initiatives, including the Arctic resilience report, the report on life linked to ice, the expert group on ecosystem based management, and the agreement on oil spill preparedness and response. We commend the Council and the Swedish Chair on their achievements in the past two years, but note much practical action remains on the agenda for the Council to meet its twin goals of sustainable development and environmental protection, as outlined in its founding document, the Ottawa declaration.

Acting on Climate Change

Climate change remains the prime driving force in both the development and degradation of the Arctic. Climate change in the Arctic also drives global impacts, such as water level rise, affecting hundreds of millions of people around the world.

Arctic states are not the only ones responsible for the extent of Arctic climate change, but they are well-positioned to lead a response. Firstly, they can take action on "black carbon". This is mostly soot emitted by industrial sources, and by agricultural burning. Evidence gathered so far by the Council and other sources suggests the black carbon emitted the furthest north has the greatest effect on warming and melting in the Arctic.

At the same time as reducing climate change, Arctic states can act to reduce climate stress on the region. A development agenda must be balanced with the need to protect areas that will most help to make the Arctic resilient to coming climate-driven changes.

WWF recommendations

The Arctic Council extends the mandate of the Task Force on Short Lived Climate Forcers, to develop an international instrument to reduce emissions of short lived climate forcers, especially black carbon emitted at high latitudes.
The Arctic states coordinate a common approach to the United Nations climate negotiations with the goal of a climate agreement by 2015 that will keep the global average temperature from rising by more than two degrees. As some of the world's biggest producers of greenhouse gas pollution, the Arctic states have an obligation to lead in these negotiations.
Arctic states continue to work toward operationalizing the principles of ecosystem based management, rather than just managing single activities, or places.
The Arctic Council leads the coordination of a common approach to ecosystem based management. This form of management is necessary for ecosystems to continue to provide valuable services to local communities, the Arctic region, and to global systems.
Arctic states develop recommendations for the next (2015) Ministerial meeting to advance the creation of a pan-Arctic network of specially managed areas underpinning biodiversity conservation and ecosystem resilience.

Oil and Gas

The risks and potential impacts associated with Arctic offshore oil and gas development are currently largely unknown and what is known shows risks are unacceptably high and unmanageable. WWF believes that without proper regulation of operations, available proven techniques for prevention and response to oil spills and adequate knowledge about Arctic systems there should be no new development of hydrocarbons in the Arctic offshore. This unreadiness to drill was graphically illustrated by Shell's series of mishaps as it attempted to drill off Alaska last year.

The Arctic Council Member Governments have gone some way toward safer development by their agreement on Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response for Arctic Waters. WWF is also participating in the efforts being made by the Council to address the prevention of oil spills through the report "Recommended Practices for Arctic Oil Spill Prevention" and its recommendations.

WWF recommendation

The Arctic Council further advances its work on oil spill prevention by negotiating an international instrument on marine oil spill prevention.

Environmentally Sound Arctic Shipping Operations

As climate change eats away at Arctic sea ice, increasing numbers of ships use the Arctic Ocean to transport goods and to bring newly accessible Arctic resources to southern markets. More boats travelling Arctic waters pressure the biodiversity and ecosystems of the region, and raise prospects of catastrophic impacts from spills.

There are international agreements, both existing and in negotiation that can help deal with these pressures. But at present, the Arctic states are not acting in a concerted and coordinated fashion to ensure these agreements provide the protection needed, such as a ban on polluting heavy fuel oil in Arctic waters.

WWF recommendation

The Arctic Council creates a coordinated voice by Arctic states in international agreements to update Arctic-specific shipping measures relevant to safety and environmental protection.

Prekretnica klimatskih promena zahteva prelaz na obnovljive izvore energije

2013-05-03

Potreba da se izvrši prelazak na čiste i održive izvore energije će se pojačati kada nivoi ugljendioksida (CO2) u atmosferi u sledećih nekoliko dana dostignu 400 delova po milionu (parts per milion – ppm) po prvi put u istoriji čovečanstva.

Naučnici iz Mauna Loa Opservatorije u Havajima treba da objave kada nivoi ugljendioksida dostignu 400 delova po milionu, što će označiti kritičnu tačku na putu ka opasno visokom globalnom zagrevanju.

„Hitnost da se snize emisije nikad nije bila veća", rekla je Samantha Smith, lider WWF-ove svetske Inicijative o klimi i energiji.

"Zakoni fizike nam kažu da što više CO2 imamo u atmosferi, svet će postati topliji. Posledji put kada je atmosfera Zemlje imala onoliko CO2 koliko ima danas, svet je bio 3-4 stepena Celzijusa topliji. A poslednji put kad je svet bio toliko topao, nivoi mora su bili 5-40 puta viši nego što su sada," rekla je ona.

Kako navode naučnici, izvesno je da je čovečanstvo odgovorno za podizanje nivoa CO2 u atmosferi, gde najveći deo svetskog zagađenja klime potiče iz energetskog sektora, pogotovo usled sagorevanja fosilnih goriva. Ako nivoi CO2 nastave da se povećavaju, možemo očekivati da će zabeležene visoke temperature postati nove prosečne letnje temperature; zabeležene suše će postati normalne; a zabeležene oluje i poplave će postati učestali događaji", rekla je Smith.

"Širom sveta, zajednice i organi vlasti se već muče da odgovore na suše, propadanje useva i ekstremne vremenske nepogode, čak i u bogatim zemljama kao što su Sjedinjene Američke Države. Ako nivoi CO2 nastave da se povećavaju, napori da se izvrši adaptacija na klimu koja se stalno menja najverovatnije neće biti dovoljni."

Ali ovaj trend se može promeniti ako se naprave pravi izbori.

"Brzim prelaskom sveta na obnovljive izvore energije, i uz podršku jakih mera energetske efikasnosti, možemo drastično smanjiti emisije CO2, što će vremenom stabilizovati i smanjiti koncentracije CO2 u atmosferi," rekla je Smith.

Cene električne energije poreklom iz obnovljivih izvora energije su radikalno opale, a 2011. godine investicije u obnovljive izvore energije su po prvi put nadmašile investicije u energiju fosilnih goriva. Energija dobijena iz obnovljivih izvora može postati „nova normalna" energija. Međutim, to zahteva posvećenost organa uprave ako želimo da se ova promena desi dovoljno brzo i u dovoljno velikoj razmeri, rekla je Smith.

Mauna Loa Opservatorija radi pod Scripps Institutom okeanografije Kalifornija Univerzieta u San Dijegu. Scripps Institut okeanografije je jedan od najstarijih, najvećih i najvažnijih centara za proučavanje, edukaciju i informisanje o vodenim i kopnenim ekosistemima.

Opservatorija u Havajima je locirana u Pacifičkom Okeanu, 3,400m iznad nivoa mora i daleko od bilo kog velikog izvora zagađenja, i stoga se podaci ove opservatorije o ugljendioksidu smatraju „zlatnim standardom" podataka.

Climate Change milestone demands shift to renewable energy

2013-05-03

Brussels, Belgium - The need to shift to sustainable and clean energy sources will be reinforced when the levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere reached 400 parts per million (ppm) for the first time in human history in the next few days.

Scientists from the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, are set to announce that levels of atmospheric CO2 are reaching 400ppm now, marking a critical point on the pathway to dangerous levels of global warming.

The imperative to drive down these emissions has never been stronger, says Samantha Smith, WWF leader of the Global Climate & Energy Initiative.

"The laws of physics tell us that the more CO2 we have in the atmosphere, the warmer the world will get. The last time the Earth's atmosphere had as much CO2 as it has today, the world was 3-4 degrees Celsius warmer. And the last time the world was that warm, sea levels were five to 40 meters higher than they are now," she says.

According to scientists, there's no doubt that human beings are responsible for rising levels of CO2 in the atmosphere, with most of global climate pollution coming from the energy sector, especially burning fossil fuels. If CO2 levels continue to rise, we can expect to see record high temperatures become the new summer average; record droughts become the norm; and record storms and floods become frequent events, says Smith.

"Globally, communities and governments already struggle to respond to droughts, crop failures and extreme weather events, even in rich countries such as the US. If CO2 levels keep rising, efforts to adapt to a changing climate are very unlikely to do the job."

But this trajectory can change if the right choices are made.

"With a fast global shift to renewable energy and supported by strong energy efficiency measures, we can drastically reduce CO2 emissions which eventually will also stabilise and reduce atomospheric CO2 concentrations," says Smith. Costs of renewable electricity have dropped radically, and in 2011 investments in renewables outstripped investments in fossil fuel power for the first time. Renewable energy can become "the new normal." But it requires commitments from governments if it is to happen quickly enough and at scale, she says.

ends

For Editors:
The Keeling Curve http://keelingcurve.ucsd.edu/

Further information:

Mandy Jean Woods, mwoods@wwf.org.za / +27 82 553 4211 (please send SMS if urgent) @MandyJeanWoods
Sam Smith, ssmith@wwf.no / @pandaclimate

WWF's Earth Hour City Challenge takes flight as cities aim to create climate friendly lifestyles for urban dwellers

2013-04-30

Gland: As the UNFCCC working group tasked to discuss the scope, structure and design of the new 2015 global climate agreement convenes in Bonn this week, WWF urges delegates to recognize and gain inspiration from the key role cities are playing in the transformation toward a sustainable, 100% renewable energy future.

WWF invites cities in 15 countries to participate in the internationally acclaimed Earth Hour City Challenge 2014.

"The UN climate change negotiation process is currently seeking inputs and support from all sectors of society and from all levels of government in order to fertilize the ground for an effective 2015 global agreement and to significantly step up climate change action before the entry into force of that agreement, says Christiana Figueres, UNFCCC Executive Secretary.

We can all be inspired by what many cities are doing to curb emissions and adapt to climate change. It is essential that these shining examples be better known so that people working in the international, national and business arenas recognize the possibilities and are stimulated to do more – and faster – to respond to the climate challenge."

Although urban dwellers currently account for over 70% of global CO2 emissions, cities also have the potential to create conditions for climate smart and sustainable lifestyles, allowing the world's population to live well within the boundaries of our one and only planet.

WWF's Earth Hour City Challenge was designed to highlight and reward cities that are prepared to make substantial long-term efforts to combat global warming. WWFs goal is to mobilize action and support from cities in the global transition towards 100% renewable energy.

"The world needs immediate and ambitious climate action on all possible levels if we are to avoid the risks inherent in increasing global temperatures," says Jim Leape, Director General of WWF International. "A global, binding climate agreement is essential, but cities also can and are playing a crucial role in getting on with the task of reducing emissions."

In 2013, 66 cities from Canada, India, Italy, Norway, Sweden and the USA participated in the first international Earth Hour City Challenge by reporting their commitments, performance, completed or ongoing actions, as well as climate action plans. In March, six cities (Vancouver, New Delhi, Forli, Oslo, Uppsala, San Francisco) were selected by an expert jury* as Earth Hour Capitals in their respective countries.

The City of Vancouver was later awarded the title Global Earth Hour Capital 2013 for its outstanding holistic and strategic approach - specifically its impressive transportation strategy, solid actions on the impact of food and progressive neighborhood energy plan, to climate action during an award ceremony in Malmö, Sweden in March.

Cities in 15 countries, including six from the previous round as well as Brazil, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Mexico, the Netherlands, South Korea and Indonesia will participate in the upcoming round of the Earth Hour City Challenge, which will be run by WWF in collaboration with ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability and the Swedish Postcode Lottery.

"Earth Hour City Challenge has clearly demonstrated that global level of ambition can be easily raised with ambitious local leaders and actions. Now it is the responsibility of national governments to tap this potential into the new global climate regime," said Gino Van Begin, Secretary General of ICLEI, the focal point of local governments at the UNFCCC.

Cities will be asked to register their data on carbonn Cities Climate Registry (cCCR), an internationally recognized carbon reporting platform managed by ICLEI which will be open for reporting from May – October 2013. Strategies will then be evaluated by an international jury, and in March 2014, the city with the highest overall score will be awarded the title Global Earth Hour Capital.

*Earth Hour City Challenge Jury 2013
•Gino van Begin, Secretary General of ICLEI
•Martha Delgado, General Director of the Secretariat of the Global Cities Covenant on Climate
•Amanda Eichel, Director of Initiatives and City Support, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group
•Christiana Figueres, UNFCCC Executive Secretary
•Simon Giles, Senior Principal Intelligent Cities, Accenture Global, Accenture
•Dan Hoornweg, Professor and Jeff Boyce Research Chair, University of Ontario Institute of Technology
•Pietro Laureano, architect and urban planner, UNESCO consultant
•Conor Riffle, Head of CDP Cities

2030 Climate & Energy package: EU Ministers must re-energise Europe

2013-04-22

Brussels, Belgium: Ahead of today's joint meeting between Europe's Energy and Environment ministers in Dublin, Jason Anderson, Head of Climate and Energy for WWF's European Policy Office said:

"Energy and Environment Ministers must leave behind Europe's dirty past and prepare for a clean future by advancing a package of 2030 targets for energy savings, renewable energy and emissions reductions. By doing so, they will help to secure Europe's long-term economic competitiveness, the security of our energy supplies, and the quality of our environment."

"These ministers must not follow the weakness of the European Parliament's vote on the EU ETS and succumb to the lobbying of vested interest from big producers and consumers of fossil fuels. If they do so, they will be locking Europe into decades of inefficient technologies that will force us to spend hundreds of billions euros importing the coal, oil and gas that damage our health and the health of our planet."

Further information:

Jason Anderson
Head of Climate & Energy
WWF European Policy Office
janderson@wwf.eu
Phone:+32 2 740 09 35
Mobile:+32 4 74 837 603

Audrey Gueudet
Communication and Media Officer
WWF European Policy Office
agueudet@wwf.eu
Phone: +32 2 743 88 06 |
Mobile: + 32 4 94 032 027

European Parliament votes against the climate and for more pollution

2013-04-16

Today the European Parliament regrettably voted to reject a proposal to temporarily revive the EU's flagging carbon market, the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). With carbon prices already at all-time lows, the vote will further undermine the security of investments into low-carbon technologies.

"After broad agreement that backloading alone would not solve the fundamental problems faced by the ETS, EU lawmakers need to get rid of the surplus toxic tonnes hanging like a dark shadow over the carbon market," said Sam Van den plas of WWF. "In addition, the EU should stop handing out free allowances to a large majority of EU manufacturing industries since current carbon prices do not justify such gifts."

NGOs were dismayed that elected lawmakers caved to a small but intense business lobby and became unwilling to support a short-term measure designed to help put the right price on pollution. Without EU-wide measures, Europe faces a lost decade of climate inaction. Member states must therefore swiftly implement national policies to support the ailing carbon market and EU climate ambition.

"It's outrageous that Parliament seems to value polluting industry more than Europe's green future," said Julia Michalak of CAN Europe. "Since Parliament has made it clear that they don't support backloading, we now urge all branches of EU government to propose alternative solutions to support Europe's transformation into a low-carbon economy."

The proposal has been referred back to the Parliament's Environment Committee, awaiting the outcome of the Commission's reflections.

Editor's notes: Our campaign

Ahead of the plenary vote, last week NGOs staged a live carbon "auction" in front of the European Parliament in Brussels with outlandish bidders and a giant black balloon representing one tonne of CO2 emissions.
High resolution images of the event are available here. Please credit Lode Saidane/CAN Europe/WWF if reproducing the photographs.  

A video of the "auction" is available here.

For more information on the ETS and our position on reforming the system to make it work, see our briefing 'EU ETS at a crossroads - NGO Briefing - January 2013'.

For more information contact:

POLICY CONTACTS

SAM VAN DEN PLAS, Climate Policy Officer, WWF European Policy Office
svandenplas@wwf.eu, +32 485 95 22 01

JULIA MICHALAK, EU Climate Policy Officer, CAN Europe, Julia@caneurope.org,
+ 32 495 77 45 68

MEDIA CONTACTS

AUDREY GUEUDET, Climate and Energy Media Officer, WWF European Policy Office, agueudet@wwf.eu, + 32 4 94 03 20 27

VANESSA BULKACZ, Communications Manager, CAN Europe, Vanessa@caneurope.org, +32 494 525 738

EU ETS: Green Groups Urge European Parliament to Vote for the Climate

2013-04-15

Who?
European Parliament

When and Where?
Tuesday 16 April, Strasbourg

What?
Tomorrow, the European Parliament will vote in plenary on the amendment to the EU Emissions Trading Directive (ETS), required to adopt the so called "back-loading" proposal. The back-loading proposal has been presented by the Commission after the European Parliament called for strengthening of the EU ETS in the context of the Energy Efficiency Directive and its own-initiative report on the 2050 Low-carbon Roadmap.

In order to correct the massive imbalance between supply and demand on the carbon market, the European Commission has proposed to delay the auctioning of 900 million CO2 allowances, a step which would temporarily stall the continued oversupply.

The Parliament's lead environment committee supported the proposal, with cross party support, in a vote on 19 February.

CAN Europe, Greenpeace and WWF welcome the proposed delay of emission allowance auctions as an important first step towards deeper reform of the EU's carbon market. However, the number of allowances to be held back should be higher. Furthermore, backloading must be immediately followed by more long-lasting ETS structural reform.

Quotes

Quote from Julia Michalak, EU Climate Policy Officer, CAN Europe

"This week's backloading vote is a test for the European Parliament. MEPs will show whether they will vote for the climate or for more cheap pollution."

Quote from Joris den Blanken, Greenpeace EU

"Either parliamentarians support credible European action against climate change, or Europe will be forced back into a patchwork of national measures. It is not only the carbon market, but the entire European climate policy that is at stake in tomorrow's vote."

Quote from Sam van den plas, Climate Policy Officer, WWF European Policy Office

"The ETS is dangling on a cliff edge and Parliament can choose to lend a helping hand or to give it a shove. Support for backloading is a necessary step toward creating a carbon market that will help modernise and decarbonise Europe's industry."

Our campaign

Ahead of the plenary vote, last week green groups staged a live carbon "auction" in front of the European Parliament with outlandish bidders and a giant black balloon representing one tonne of CO2 emissions.

High resolution images of the event are available here. Please credit Lode Saidane/CAN Europe/WWF if reproducing the photographs.
A video of the "auction" is available here.

For more information on the ETS, and on the position of CAN Europe, Greenpeace and WWF on reforming the system to make it work, see our briefing 'EU ETS at a crossroads - NGO Briefing - January 2013'.

Why must the ETS be fixed?

The EU ETS is currently not functioning as envisaged. The scheme is neither contributing in a cost-effective manner to the EU's climate objective of 80-95% emission cuts by 2050, nor accelerating the required low-carbon transition, and is therefore failing to meet its principal policy objectives.

With back-loading and ETS structural reform in place, auctioning revenues for all Member States would increase significantly between 2013 and 2020. With the right policy choices, these funds can mobilise investments in clean and resource-efficient technologies in the power sector and industry as a whole.

A restored carbon price signal will accelerate the modernisation of the power sector especially in central and eastern European Member States, which are obliged to invest the monetary value of the free allowances in the upgrade of their power systems.

Back-loading will not decrease Europe's competitiveness. In addition to a 100% free allocation of allowances, industrial sectors supposedly at greater risk of 'carbon leakage' (the flight of carbon intensive industries to lesser regulatory regimes) - such as steel, cement and glass production - may receive state aid in compensation for increased electricity prices resulting from CO2 costs passed on by power producers. Back-loading will not decrease the surplus of allowances held by many companies.

Contacts: (available for interviews in Strasbourg 15-16 April):

POLICY CONTACTS

SAM VAN DEN PLAS, Climate Policy Officer, WWF European Policy Office
svandenplas@wwf.eu, +32 485 95 22 01

JULIA MICHALAK, EU Climate Policy Officer, CAN Europe, Julia@caneurope.org,
+ 32 495 77 45 68

JORIS DEN BLANKEN, EU climate policy director, Greenpeace European Unit joris.den.blanken@greenpeace.org, +32 476 96 13 75 (mobile)

MEDIA CONTACTS

VANESSA BULKACZ, Communications Manager, CAN Europe, Vanessa@caneurope.org, +32 494 525 738

ED DAVITT, Communications Officer, Greenpeace EU, edward.davitt@greenpeace.org, +32 476 988584

AUDREY GUEUDET, Climate and Energy Media Officer, WWF European Policy Office, agueudet@wwf.eu, + 32 4 94 03 20 27

Green groups stage the world's first open air carbon auction to urge MEPs to put the right price on pollution

2013-04-09

Brussels, Belgium: Today CAN Europe and WWF staged a live carbon auction in front of the European Parliament with a giant black balloon representing one tonne of CO2 emissions and outlandish bidders. An auctioneer started the bidding at 30€/tonne; but did industry bid for the climate or for cheap pollution?

The "auction" came before a European Parliament plenary vote on 16 April on the "backloading" proposal for the EU emissions trading scheme (ETS). CAN Europe and WWF support the backloading proposal as a necessary first step toward deep reform of the EU ETS.

"A positive vote next week will go some way toward mitigating the severe problems faced by the EU's carbon market, which has so far failed to encourage innovation or dissuade polluters due to the massive surplus of allowances, leading to a hopelessly low cost", said Sam Van den Plas of WWF European Policy Office. "But backloading of emission allowances is only a temporary first step. Structural reforms of the carbon market need to make a reality of the EU's 30 percent domestic carbon emission reduction commitments by 2020."

"Right now industry lobbyists pay more for a hamburger than for a tonne of carbon, which is not putting the right price on pollution," said Julia Michalak of CAN Europe. "Next week's backloading vote is a test for the European Parliament. MEPs will show whether they will bid for the climate and a green European future or for more cheap pollution."

Note to the editors:

Photo gallery of today's first world's first open air carbon auction (Please credit Lode Saidane/CAN Europe/WWF if reproducing the photographs): http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwf_eu/sets/72157633205241412/

Video interview of Sam Van den plas of WWF: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrvWUIvd7JQ
Video interview of Julia Michalak of CAN Europe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVbYFdJo29c

For more information contact:

Vanessa Bulkacz, vanessa@caneurope.org, +32 494 525 738
Audrey Gueudet, agueudet@wwf.eu, +32 494 032 027

Only targets can ensure success of a 2030 climate and energy framework

2013-03-27

Brussels, Belgium: Ahead of today's publication of a European Commission Green Paper on a 2030 framework for climate and energy policies, WWF calls for a level of ambition that will protect the planet, based on lessons learnt from past successes and failures.

The Commission's commitment to extending the current legislative framework beyond 2020 is an important and necessary step. However, the Green Paper notes carbon reduction levels that would only achieve 80%, instead of the 95% emissions reductions needed by 2050. In addition, the anticipated 30% share of renewable energy by 2030 underestimates the real potential of clean energy in the EU [1]. Most concerningly, the failure to deliver energy savings, because of a non-binding 2020 target, is not adequately addressed.

Jason Anderson, Head of Climate and Energy at WWF European Policy Office, said:

"The history of EU policy is littered with the corpses of voluntary targets that died of neglect. Post-2020 climate and energy policy that includes binding renewable energy and energy savings targets will be more effective and less expensive than an approach based on greenhouse gas targets alone, supported by the EU ETS."

The Green Paper is expected to consider the changing context since 2008: the economic crisis, restricted investment, energy affordability, technology development and international commitments.

"Remarkably, this paper overlooks what we've learned about the reason these policies exist: the ever-increasing evidence of the rapidity of climate change", says Anderson. "Unless we avert dangerous global warming, all other goals – economic, social, and environmental – will fail. Competitiveness, social welfare and climate protection are not tradeoffs: not only can we deliver them all, we must."

-Ends-

1. A recent WWF's report entitled "Putting the EU on track for 100% renewable energy" shows that by 2030, the EU could use at least 38% less energy compared to a business as usual projection and generate more than 40% of its energy from renewable sources. The post-2020 climate and energy policies needed to deliver this vision would help the EU to reduce its €573bn external fossil fuel bill and cut its greenhouse gas emissions in half. The Green paper published today is clearly not going in this direction.

Further information:

Jason Anderson
Head of Climate & Energy
WWF European Policy Office
janderson@wwf.eu
Phone:+32 2 740 09 35
Mobile:+32 4 74 837 603

Audrey Gueudet
Communication and Media Officer
WWF European Policy Office
agueudet@wwf.eu
Phone: +32 2 743 88 06 |
Mobile: + 32 4 94 03 20 27

APP suppliers pulping new bid for sustainability credentials in Kalimantan?

2013-03-27

Pontianak, West Kalimantan – NGO observers have claimed that pulp timber suppliers to controversial paper giant Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) are continuing to log tropical forest and dig drainage canals through peat soils in Kalimantan, regardless of the new Forest Conservation Policy (FCP) launched with much fanfare by APP and parent group Sinar Mas last month.

APP, noting that the suppliers have denied breaching requirements of the FCP, is investigating a complaint lodged by the Consortium of Kalimantan's Forest Monitoring NGOs (RPHK)

Over the same period that heavy machinery was apparently engaged in logging and dredging on the two concessions , representatives of both APP and the two supplier companies hosted a meeting 80 km away in provincial capital Pontianak to convince sceptical local NGOs that the FCP was not yet another company greenwashing stunt.

APP has previously announced an end to tropical forest pulping in 2004, 2007 and 2009. On February 5 it hosted a gala announcement that it had halted tropical forest clearing on its own and independent supplier concessions throughout Indonesia on January 31, with heavy equipment impounded pending independent assessment of conservation values and above ground carbon.

RPHK members, who were among those present at the February 26 meeting in Potianak, lodged a complaint on the basis of extensive photographic and video evidence of the work on concessions of PT Asia Tani Persada (ATP) and PT Daya Tani Kalbar (DTK), two of the four companies disclosed by APP as West Kalimantan suppliers to its mills in devastated Sumatra.

RPHK observers familiar with the areas of the two concessions said they contained orang-utan habitat. The promised assessments would have examined whether and where orang-utans are still present.

"We are really concerned to see how heavy equipment is still actively clearing natural forest, digging peat canals and clearing the land in the two supplier's concessions in West Kalimantan. This is a clear violation of the APP's FCP that APP socialized in Pontianak on 26 February," said Baruni Hendri, a spokesperson of the RPHK consortium.

"Our findings showed that APP is not taking their conservation policy seriously, thus making RPHK doubt APP's seriousness on the implementation of their commitment."

APP has issued a statement that "Our policy is clear - there would be no natural forest clearance anywhere in our supply chain and every supplier has been advised of he policy details."

"We contacted the suppliers and both have strongly indicated that they are not in breach of our policy and that the likely cause is concession boudaries that overlap with other industries."

WWF-Indonesia, a member of RPHK with local NGOs, has called on APP and its parent, the giant Sinar Mas Group, to quickly close a loophole allowing mills to continue accepting "stockpiled" mixed tropical hardwoods for an indefinite period, nominating May 5 as giving ample time to clear stockpiles. The evidence of current clearing vindicates concerns that freshly cleared timber will continue to be "laundered" into pulp mills.

"We call on global buyers of pulp and paper to remain skeptical and await independent verification by independent NGOs of the credible field implementation of APP's FCP before making any new purchasing decision," said Anton P. Wijaya, Director Executive of WALHI (Friends of Earth Indonesia) chapter West Kalimantan.

Member groups of the Consortium of Kalimantan Forest Monitoring Volunteers (RPHK) able to provide information in English are WWF-Indonesia (Contact : Ian Hilman, +6282121868624, ihilman@wwf.or.id), and TITIAN, an active biodiversity conservation institute for local community sustainable benefits in West Kalimantan (Contact Director, Sulhani +62561-6589198). Other member groups include AKAR, an illegal wildlife crime monitoring network in Borneo, actively raising public awareness about the importance of wildlife protection and their habitat; JPIK Kalimantan Barat, a civil society network that focuses on monitoring effort of the sustainable forest management for Forest Plantation Wood Production Permit; Link-AR Borneo (Lingkaran Advokasi dan Riset), a civil society organization focus on advocacy based on research or investigation related to land plunder and biodiversity degradation, as well as community empowerment ( www.linkarborneo.com); SAMPAN (Sahabat Masyarakat Pantai), a civil society organization focus on advocacy for costal and watershed communities (www.sampankalimantan.org) and LEMBAH, an active institute in Bengkayang District for social and economic empowerment based on environment.

Photos and videos of this issue can be accessed through:
www.linkarborneo.com and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o54C3jf6PLYRPHK.

Earth Hour Seeks Law Reform For Protective Forests In Russia

2013-03-20

Moscow / Singapore: Following on from the massive success of its 120,000-strong signature petition that led to better protection of the country's seas from oil pollution, WWF's Earth Hour in Russia is launching its 2013 campaign aiming to secure more than 100,000 signatures from Russian citizens to petition for amendments to the current forest legislation.

The signature campaign was launched just a few months after the Russian parliament passed a long-awaited law to protect the country's seas from oil pollution. The passage of the sea protection law was the result of WWF Russia's 'I Will If You Will' campaign for Earth Hour 2012.

If the pending petition is successful, it could mean a return to better protection for an area twice the size of France, with protective forests equaling almost 18% of all forests in the country.

After 70 years of protection, legislation was changed several times between 2009 and 2010 allowing certain industrial logging to take place in protected forest territories.

"The timber resources of Russia's exploited forests are already exhausted because of over-logging during the Soviet era, illegal logging in recent decades and an unchanged approach in timber harvesting estimation in the last 150 years. This has forced logging companies to search for new sources of commercially valuable timber," says Konstantin Kobyakov, coordinator of WWF Russia's projects on High Conservation Value Forests.

"The recent changes to the law make these areas a prime target for commercial logging," he added.

CEO and Co-Founder of Earth Hour, Andy Ridley, says the campaign in Russia has become an international leading example of how Earth Hour advocates are creating massive impact beyond the hour.

"The success of WWF Russia's Earth Hour campaign in 2012 is already inspiring teams around the world to aspire to new heights to achieve greater environmental outcomes for their countries and territories. It would be extraordinary to see Russia achieve another monumental environmental outcome for Earth Hour this year, and once again inspire the world in 2013," he said.

The protective forests cover 17 different categories, including water-conservation zones, nut harvesting zones, mountain forests, tundra forests, green zones and woodland parks, urban forests and spawning zones.

Forest areas located on the waterside of rivers, creeks, lakes or seas, as well as green zones around big cities, even those of Northern Russian cities located on the areas of the tundra-forests, all fall under the definition of 'protective forests'.

These forests serve to protect drinking water, soil fertility, climate stability, clear air, as well as animals and food like berries, mushrooms and nuts. The areas also serve as ideal respites for city-dwellers escaping urban environments, and for rural-dwellers providing their families with much needed sustainable resources.

The thriving ecosystems of the protective forests protected millions of hectares of the most valuable biological territories from the negative impact of industrial human activities.

WWF considers the industrial exploitation and destruction of the protective forests as unacceptable, due to the loss of valuable qualities of the forests and the impact this has on all citizens in the country.

"For 70 years these forests protected us. Now is the time for us to protect them. Let's get the ban on industrial logging back into the forest legislation," said Kobyakov.

Earth Hour 2013 will take place at 8.30pm – 9.30pm on Saturday 23 March

-ends-

Images of Russia's Protective Forests can be downloaded for media at http://www.flickr.com/photos/earthhour_global/sets/72157632814967336/

See the Earth Hour 2013 Official Video at www.ehour.me/2013ViD

Press images can be downloaded at http://earthhour.org/media-centre/images

Downloadable video footage of the global event will be available in four B-rolls for media, covering major regions at http://www.earthhour.org/media-centre/videos

Media enquiries:
Benjamin Vozzo, Earth Hour Global E: benjamin@earthhour.org Ph: +65 8223 1728
Mai Tatoy, Earth Hour Global E: mai@earthhour.org Ph: +65 9017 7411
Darya Kudryavtseva, WWF-Russia E: DKudryavtseva@wwf.ru Ph: +7 (495) 727-09-39

To join the global community head to:
Earth Hour www.earthhour.org
Facebook www.facebook.com/earthhour
Twitter www.twitter.com/earthhour
YouTube www.YouTube.com/EarthHour
Google+ http://plus.google.com/+EarthHour

About Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global environmental initiative in partnership with WWF. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 23, 2013 at 8:30 PM to show their support for environmentally sustainable action. In 2013, Earth Hour's I Will If You Will concept invites individuals and organisations to challenge others to an ongoing environmental commitment beyond the hour. Earth Hour began in one city in 2007 and by 2012 involved hundreds of millions of people in 152 countries across every continent, receiving reports as 'the world's largest campaign for the planet'.

About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organisations, with almost five million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

Indian scheme turning grandmothers into solar engineers in Madagascar

2013-03-15

Antananarivo, Madagascar: A group of seven elderly women have departed their villages in rural Madagascar for six months training at India's Barefoot College that will equip them as community solar engineers.

The College's Solar Engineer programme, run in conjunction with WWF trains grandmothers to provide solar energy to their villages and others.

These solar systems will be their communities' main energy source for lighting, where today there is currently either no power or only unsustainable energy sources like kerosene, diesel and old or disposable batteries. It is estimated that rural households in Madagascar use approximately 1.5–2 gallons of kerosene per month for their lighting and cooking needs.

Utilising solar power would almost eliminate the community's dependence on diesel and kerosene, according to WWF's Renewable Energy Manager Jean-Philippe Denruyter.

"They will be electrifying 240 households in Iavomanitra village and 150 households in Tsaratànana village on their return. Both these villages are located in protected areas in the forests of Madagascar, where the local communities are the stewards of the land and the link between environment and social issues is very obvious", he said.

Founded in 1972 in Rajasthan, Barefoot College is a voluntary organization working in the fields of education, skill development, health, drinking water, women empowerment and electrification through solar power for the upliftment of rural people.

"This partnership brings to life WWF's vision of achieving universal sustainable energy access through 100% renewable energy. Access to clean, safe, reliable and affordable renewable energy is fundamental for achieving poverty eradication and sustainable development", says Samantha Smith, leader of the WWF Global Climate and Energy Initiative under whom the programme of energy access falls.

The group, the first under to participate under the WWF programme, will soon join the more than 300 women already trained as Barefoot Engineers.

Only older women (often grandmothers) are accepted in the programme as they are less likely to go to the city when they return from their training, and are keen to share their knowledge and have the patience to learn.
WWF is currently mobilising funds for the women to equip them with the materials and tools needed to start their work on their return, according to Denruyter.

"As poor communities are gaining access to energy, it is important that they benefit from the best, CO2 emission free technologies that also avoid dependence on volatile energy prices and expensive fossil fuels," said Denruyter.

"Moreover, reliable solar power in rural areas does not only reduce the need for inefficient governmental subsidies for more expensive fossil fuels, but also provides improved livelihoods for poor communities, enhances opportunities for education and development in rural areas, particularly for women," he added.

Uganda unveils the world's first Earth Hour forest

2013-03-14

Kampala, Uganda / Singapore: Preparations across the globe kick off for Earth Hour 2013 with the creation of the world's first Earth Hour Forest in the East African nation of Uganda, to fight against the 6,000 hectares of deforestation that occurs in the country every month.

WWF Uganda identified close to 2,700 hectares of degraded land, and set a goal to fill it with at least 500,000 indigenous trees as part of their Earth Hour 2013 campaign. Earth Hour 2013 will take place at 8.30pm on Saturday 23 March.

"We cannot afford to ignore this critical environmental threat we are facing today. So, we are calling upon every individual, business, government agency, friends and family members to join us in planting this new landmark for Uganda's environment," said David Duli, Country Director, WWF Uganda Country Office.

Businesses, government officials and individuals are quickly heeding the call and taking up the challenge set by WWF Uganda to reach their 2013 goal. Leading the way is Standard Chartered Bank - Uganda, which has already committed to plant close to 250,000 trees, and the Ugandan Minister of State for Water and Environment who has personally pledged to plant 1,000 trees.

"Earth Hour 2013 is the rallying point for millions of people in 152 countries and territories across the world to address the climate change challenge. It illustrates that it's within our reach and power to work together for a sustainable future," said Andy Ridley, CEO and co-founder of Earth Hour.

This tree planting initiative is one of thousands of Earth Hour's I Will If You Will challenges taking place worldwide. I Will If You Will is a campaign that encourages everyone to take a positive action for the environment, beyond the Earth Hour hour. In 2012, nearly 10,000 challenges were posted on YouTube.com/EarthHour driving more than 4.6 million people to interact with the challenges and 200,000 to accept challenges on the platform alone.

The action might be a simple lifestyle change or something that leads to political change. It might require 10 people to do something, or 10,000. I Will If You Will allows anybody – from a kid in a classroom to a President of a nation - to become the inspiration to their friends, family, colleagues and communities by sharing what they're willing to do to protect the planet.

Uganda's Earth Hour Forest is the second huge environmental outcome of the I Will If You Will campaign. In December, the Russian Parliament passed a strengthened law to better protect the country's seas from oil pollution after a petition carrying the voices of 122,000 people was successfully presented to the State Duma.

Join the Earth Hour global community and help save the planet at www.earthhour.org/signup.

Earth Hour 2013 will take place at 8.30pm – 9.30pm on Saturday 23 March

-ends-

For further information please contact:

Benjamin Vozzo, Earth Hour Global E:benjamin@earthhour.org Ph: +65 8223 1728

Mai Tatoy, Earth Hour Global, E: mai@earthhour.org Ph: +65 8223 1654

To join the global community head to:

Earth Hour www.earthhour.org

Facebook www.facebook.com/earthhour

Twitter www.twitter.com/earthhour

YouTube www.YouTube.com/EarthHour

Google+ plus.google.com/+EarthHour

Actress Jessica Alba Announced as Earth Hour 2013 Global Ambassador

2013-03-13

SINGAPORE/LOS ANGELES, USA: Hollywood star and Co-Founder of The Honest Company, Jessica Alba is the newest global ambassador for Earth Hour, the world's largest mass participation event that has become the iconic symbol of people's commitment to protect the planet.

Alba along with the other co-founders of eco-friendly family brand The Honest Company, Christopher Gavigan, Sean Kane and Brian Lee, are lending their support to the cause through a fun 'I Will If You Will' challenge, in line with the company's focus on promoting health and sustainability.

"Christopher, Sean, Brian and I, founders of The Honest Company, will let our kids dress the whole Honest team, including us, for work for one day if 10,000 people commit to switch to using non-toxic products in their home," Alba said.

As global ambassador, Alba is also encouraging those who accept their IWIYW challenge to participate in Earth Hour's monumental lights off event on Saturday, March 23 at 8:30PM.

"The choices we all make in our daily lives can have a massive difference, not only to our children, but also to the very planet on which we live," she said.

Alba joins a long list of celebrity eco-advocates who have taken part in the I Will If You Will campaign, including international supermodel Miranda Kerr, actress Isabel Lucas and Asia's Next Top Model host Nadya Hutagalung.

"Earth Hour is about the power of an interconnected global community coming together to drive real action for the sustainable future of our planet. It's an honor to have Jessica and The Honest Company founders step up to this pivotal role, inspiring their fans and colleagues to join the global community," said Andy Ridley, CEO and Co-Founder of Earth Hour.

Christopher Gavigan hopes the challenge will help parents make better choices for their families and for the planet.

"It's important to consider where our products come from, what's in them and the impact they have on the environment - before they reach our shelves, during their time in our homes and after we're done with them. I believe Earth Hour is a movement that empowers people to make a difference, and I'm excited to be a part of it," he said.

Earth Hour, which was co-founded by WWF in 2007, has grown from a one-city initiative to a 7,001-city/town global movement. Last year it reached an estimated 2 billion people in 152 countries and territories across all seven continents.

Earth Hour will take place on Saturday, March 23 2013 at 8:30PM.

MEPs lend support to Earth Hour

2013-03-13

In a Youtube video released on 12 March, MEPs Tanja Fajon, Dan Jorgensen (both from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats) and Bas Eickhout (The European Free Alliance / Greens) joined forces to support Earth Hour and send a powerful message on the need to step up efforts in the fight against climate change.

Watch the video here:

European Commissioner for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard supports Earth Hour

2013-03-12

Speaking in a Youtube video released on 11 March, Connie Hedegaard, the European Commissioner for Climate action, lent her support to Earth Hour, calling on everyone to think about what we can do to secure a world we like with a climate we like.

« If we start acting now on climate change, then we can still be in for a bright future", she said. "The engagement of every single one of us counts but the action of every single one of us will make the difference".

Calling on everyone to switch off their lights for Earth Hour on Saturday 23 March from 8.30 to 9.30, she said: "This is certainly not THE solution but this is a reminder and the opportunity for you to stop and think about what you can do to secure a world you like with a climate you like."

Earth Hour 2013: Give us your energy!

2013-03-11

The fight against climate change takes more than just one day of action. Want to help? Take 5 simple steps to reduce your impact on the environment and find out how much CO2 you can save in doing so here!

1.TRAVEL: Leave your car at home to go work
2.HEATING: Reduce the temperature on your thermostat by one degree
3.COOKING: Cook a low –carbon meal
4.ENERGY PROVIDER: Switch to green energy
5.LIGHTING: Install energy efficient light bulbs

Take action NOW on http://www.earthhour.be/en-gb/home/!

Earth Hour is the single, largest, symbolic mass participation event in the world. Born out of a hope that we could mobilise people to take action on climate change, Earth Hour now inspires a global community of millions of people in 7,001 cities and towns across 152 countries and territories. More info: www.earthhour.org

Earth Hour More than Lights Off

2013-02-27

Earth Hour launches global 2013 campaign as a platform for outcomes to change the planet

February 27 2013, SINGAPORE: Earth Hour, the world's largest movement for the planet, has launched its 2013 campaign on the back of record environmental outcomes it achieved in 2012.

Andy Ridley, CEO and Co-Founder of Earth Hour, spoke at the media launch of the environmental campaign in Singapore today. Earth Hour 2013 will take place on Saturday, March 23 at 8:30PM.

"Earth Hour has always been more than a lights off campaign, and we are now seeing some extraordinary environmental outcomes on the way to achieving our long-term vision," Ridley said.

"Last December, the Russian parliament passed a long-awaited law to protect the country's seas from oil pollution, after the voices of 120,000 Russians were presented to the government during our I Will If You Will campaign for Earth Hour 2012," he said.

Following on from the massive success of its 120,000-strong signature petition, WWF's Earth Hour in Russia has launched its 2013 campaign aiming to secure more than 100,000 signatures from Russian citizens to petition for amendments to the current forest legislation. If successful, it will return a ban on industrial logging in an area of land equal to twice the size of France, with protective forests equalling almost 18% of all forest territory in the country.

In Africa, the first Earth Hour Forest has begun in the nation of Uganda, an important first step in the fight against the 6,000 hectares of deforestation that occurs in the country every month. WWF Uganda identified close to 2,700 hectares of degraded land, and set a goal to fill it with at least 500,000 indigenous trees as part of their Earth Hour 2013 campaign.

In Botswana, former President Mr Festus Mogae has made a four-year commitment to plant one million indigenous trees as part of his I Will If You Will challenge, starting with 100,000 in a severely degraded area in Southern Botswana called Goodhope.

Across Latin America, preparations for 'La Hora Del Planeta' are well underway with Argentinian Earth Hour organisers and WWF affiliate Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina, mobilizing thousands of participants to help champion the passing of a Senate bill to make Banco Burwood the biggest Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the country.

If the pending Senate bill is passed, the 3.4 million-hectare MPA will raise the level of protection of Argentina's Exclusive Economic Zone* from 1% to 4%.

In the USA, nearly 35,000 Girls Scouts took part in Earth Hour last year through the Save Energy Project and installed 132,141 energy efficient light bulbs across the country. The impact is a staggering 75,392,654 pounds of CO2 emissions eliminated, equivalent to the CO2 sequestration from planting 7,286 acres of trees per year*.

"These outcomes both evidence the power of our collective action and the potential for future outcomes for the environment, generated by hundreds of millions of people coming together as part of the Earth Hour movement," Ridley said.

The importance of the grassroots element of inspiration of Earth Hour is evident in the case of two volunteers in Libya,Mohammed Nattah and Muhammad Bugashata, who with the help of Libya's scout groups have successfully created the first environmental movement in their country post civil war.

"I wanted to join in 2011 but that wasn't an option because my city went through a lot that year - the war and everything," said Nattah.

"This year we've been able to get the movement to spread from two to five cities across the country, with locals and NGOs taking part in various I Will If You Will challenges," said Bugashata.

Ridley believes that in the face of the threat of an unsustainable future, the grassroots nature of the Earth Hour movement and the can-do attitude of its participants to mobilize action, are the tipping points helping to deliver real environmental outcomes, both big and small.

"People from all walks of life, from all nations around the world, are the lifeblood of the Earth Hour interconnected global community. They have proven time and time again that if you believe in something strongly enough, you can achieve amazing things. These stories aren't unique, this is happening all over the world," he said.

Since 2007 when 2.2 million people took part in the first Earth Hour in Sydney, Australia, Earth Hour has massively expanded to over 7,000 cities and towns in 152 countries and territories with hundreds of millions of participants across seven continents.

In 2013, Earth Hour is not merely an annual event, but is a continuous movement driving real actions to change the world we live in.

Earth Hour 2013 will take place at 8.30pm – 9.30pm on Saturday 23 March

* An exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is a sea-zone over which a state has special rights over the exploration and use of marine resources.

*Data provided by Girl Scouts Forever Green – Save Energy, developed in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency and Earth Hour

Media enquiries:
Benjamin Vozzo, Earth Hour Global
Email: benjamin@earthhour.org
Tel : +65 8223 1728

Mai Tatoy, Earth Hour Global
E-mail: mai@earthhour.org
Tel: +65 9017 7411

To join the global community head to:
Earth Hour www.earthhour.org
Facebook www.facebook.com/earthhour
Twitter www.twitter.com/earthhour
YouTube www.YouTube.com/EarthHour
Google+ http://plus.google.com/+EarthHour

About Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global environmental initiative in partnership with WWF. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 23, 2013 at 8:30 PM to show their support for environmentally sustainable action. In 2013, Earth Hour's I Will If You Will concept invites individuals and organisations to challenge others to an ongoing environmental commitment beyond the hour. Earth Hour began in one city in 2007 and by 2012 involved hundreds of millions of people in 152 countries across every continent, receiving reports as 'the world's largest campaign for the planet'.

EU Environment Commissioner's "I will if you will challenge" for Earth Hour 2013

2013-02-27

Smoggy roads can be enough to make anyone scream, but they have also inspired Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik to take a "I will if you will challenge" and offer to write a song and perform it on stage in front of 1,000 people.

Speaking in a Youtube video released on 25 February, Potočnik said that if 1,000 people stopped using their cars for at least one week, he would compose and sing a ditty in front of the same number of people.

The idea is part of the WWF's Earth Hour initiative for 2013, which aims to persuade people to turn their lights off on 23 March for an hour in order to save energy, and raise awareness about the need for environmental protection.

"By lending his support to the WWF's Earth Hour initiative, Commissioner Potočnik joined the millions of people around the world who are already showing their concern for the environment. In the coming weeks, we are expecting other key EU leaders to join and publicly demonstrate their support" commented Tony Long, Director of the WWF European Policy Office.

"Earth Hour has always been more than a 'lights off for an hour' campaign - We are now seeing some extraordinary environmental outcomes on the way to achieving a long-term vision for a sustainable planet. In 2013, Earth Hour changes from an annual event towards a continuous movement driving real actions for change."

Create your own "I will if you will challenge" here!

Environment Committee confirms the need for global aviation emissions deal

2013-02-26

Brussels, 26 February – The European Parliament's Environment Committee voted today for a one-year 'stop the clock' derogation from the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) for flights to and from Europe[1]. Environmental NGOs Transport & Environment (T&E), WWF, Germanwatch and Brot für die Welt think the 'stop the clock' concession is bigger than necessary given the limited progress made in the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). However the Parliament's decision rightly increases pressure on ICAO to agree on a global deal to curb international aviation emissions. The Environment Committee's vote also emphasises the fact that the EU's emissions clock will start again if ICAO does not manage to agree on this long-awaited deal.

Commenting on the vote, Sam Van den plas, Climate Policy Officer at WWF European Policy Office, said:
"The Parliament's Environment Committee has confirmed the political gesture of the 'stop the clock' proposal as a sign of goodwill. The fact that the clock will start again after a year affirms the need for ICAO to find a global solution - but time is running out for the climate. The full European Parliament and Member States must now uphold the EU's determination to achieve a global aviation emissions solution."

Opponents of the inclusion of international flights in the EU ETS, mainly the US, India and Brazil, had previously blamed the EU for blocking a global approach under ICAO. According to these countries, the inclusion of all international flights to and from Europe in an EU emissions trading system was hindering a global deal. After a global market-based-measure (MBM) was already found to be technically feasible last year [2], the 'stop the clock' derogation removed any supposed roadblocks preventing a global solution from being implemented. ICAO set up a High-Level Group to propose a set of rules for countries to agree on when looking for global measures. This High-Level Group has, to date, achieved very little [3]. Their next meeting this March is an essential opportunity for the group to make progress on a MBM, which will then be put to the organisation's triennial assembly in September-October 2013.

T&E policy officer for aviation, Aoife O'Leary, said: "ICAO's sluggish progress on curbing aviation emissions is legendary. The 'stopping of the clock' removed any further excuses the Organisation may have had. ICAO must prove that it is serious about implementing a global aviation emissions solution, first in its High-Level Group meeting in March, and then at its triennial assembly later this year. The ball is in ICAO's court, and if it fails, Europe has other options up its sleeve."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. Commission's 'Stop the Clock' proposal:
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-12-854_en.htm
T&E's briefing:
http://www.transportenvironment.org/publications/stop-clock-ets-aviation-derogation

2. http://www.greenaironline.com/news.php?viewStory=1620

3. http://www.transportenvironment.org/publications/icao-and-aviation-emissions-clock-ticking

For further information, please contact:

Aoife O'Leary – Transport & Environment
+32 (0)2 893 0857
aoife.oleary@transportenvironment.org

Sam Van den plas – WWF European Policy Office
+32 (0)485 95 22 01
svandenplas@wwf.eu

Sabine Minninger – Brot für die Welt
+49 (0)30 65211 1817
sabine.minninger@brot-fuer-die-welt.de

Christoph Bals – Germanwatch
+49 (0)228 / 60 492-17
bals@germanwatch.org