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11 Aug 1998
In response, Friends of the Earth today urged the British Government to turn up the political heat on the United States for action on climate change. Although the US produces more climate-changing pollution than any other country (more than one fifth of the total), it has yet to ratify the climate change treaty agreed in Kyoto last year. As a result, the USA still has no legal obligation to reduce the pollution now causing catastrophic weather changes.
A key reason for the USA's failure to agree to the 6 per cent cut in emissions called for in Kyoto is campaigning by oil, car and electricity generating companies. These firms,including Esso, Ford, Texaco and Mobil - through the so-called Global Climate Coalition - have organised massive advertising campaigns questioning the science behind predicted climate change. They have also conducted a major political lobbying campaign in Washington trying to persuade the Republican majority in the Senate to block ratification of the climate change treaty. Budget measures being promoted by the Republicans could make it illegal for the US Government to spend any money at all on implementing the treaty, or even on discussing the science and practical implications of climate change.
Tony Juniper, Policy and Campaigns Director at Friends of the Earth, said:
“Al Gore tells us that the temperature is moving steadily up. But political action in Washington has been frozen by a few companies hell bent on protecting profits at everyone else's expense. Tony Blair must pile the political and diplomatic heat on his friends Clinton and Gore, to thaw the deadlock created by the oil and car giants”.
Contact details:
Friends of the Earth
26-28 Underwood St.
LONDON
N1 7JQ
Tel: 020 7490 1555
Fax: 020 7490 0881
Web: www.foe.co.uk/feedback.html
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