Archived press release

Blair calls for international action on climate change

26 January 2005

Tony Blair's speech today at the World Economic Forum in Davos, calling for urgent international action on climate change, was welcomed by Friends of the Earth. But the environmental campaign group warned against the watering down of international efforts to tackle climate change to accommodate reluctant America..

Friends of the Earth said that it is crucial for G8 countries to take a lead on tackling climate change and poverty. Friends of the Earth also

• urged the Prime Minister to do more to promote sustainable development and renewable energy sources in the developing world particularly through the UK presidency of the EU;

• warned Mr Blair that unless he takes urgent action to cut UK emissions his credibility on the issue will be seriously diminished [1].

Friends of the Earth's director, Tony Juniper said:

"Urgent international efforts to tackle climate change are desperately needed. The time for debate is over. Without action now the lives and livelihoods of millions of people, especially in the developing world, will be under threat."

"Tony Blair must continue to use his special relationship with George Bush to get the USA, the world's biggest polluter, to join the rest of the world in pledging to fight global warming.But significant progress is possible without the USA. He must use his presidency of the EU to deliver decisive action on climate change, and not be compromised by American foot-dragging."

"The time has also come for the Prime Minister to back his words with action. The UK Government is failing to take the steps required to cut carbon dioxide levels at home, and emissions are higher now than when Tony Blair took office. Tony Blair must lead by example and introduce policies to ensure year-on-year cuts in UK carbon dioxide levels."

Tony Blair has previously described the threat of climate change as "so far-reaching in its impact and irreversible in its destructive power, that it alters radically human existence" [1]. He has promised to put it at the top of the international agenda this year during the UK Chairing of the G8 and Presidency of the EU.

Despite the UK Government's promise to make significant cuts in carbon dioxide levels, emissions have not declined since Labour came to power in 1997.

Notes

1. Speech by Tony Blair: 14 September 2004

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust