Archived press release

Blair must put more pressure on usa over climate change

3 November 2004

Tony Blair must put intense pressure on George Bush - who looks certain to win the race for the Whitehouse - to join the rest of the world in the fight against climate change, Friends of the Earth said today. The US has refused to join international efforts to combat global warming despite being the biggest polluter in the world. A climate change march to the US Embassy will take place in London tomorrow (Thursday) evening [1].

President Bush pulled out of the Kyoto Protocol in 2001, arguing that US business interests would be harmed by the treaty. The United States is responsible for a quarter of the world's carbon dioxide emissions (the principle greenhouse gas), yet it only has around four per cent of the world's population.

The Bush administration exaggerated the scientific uncertainties in order to confuse the case for action. Voluntary US measures to combat global warming have been in place for over ten years, over this period US emissions have increased by 14 per cent. Its Kyoto commitment - which it refuses to ratify - was to reduce them by six per cent.

Friends of the Earth's Director Tony Juniper said:

The USA is becoming increasingly isolated over climate change. Last month Russia finally ratified the Kyoto Protocol, the international treaty aimed at cutting emissions of the gases responsible for climate change. This crucial decision by Russia means that the Kyoto Protocol will now come into effect early next year.

And Tony Blair has promised to put climate change at the top of the international agenda at next year's G8 summit, which the UK will host.

President Bush has an appalling environmental record.

He has invested some US $38 billion in subsidies to fossil fuel and nuclear industries, advanced policies to open up Africa and Central Asia to oil exploration, and allowing drilling for oil in Alaska.

Friends of the Earth also pointed to his support for genetically modified food and crops, which has resulted in the US making a complaint to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) about European attempts to regulate GM. If the complaint is successful, it could force European states to open their markets to GM produce, regardless of the views of their citizens.

At home, Bush has also come under heavy criticism from environmental organisations for weakening environmental protection legislation, by increasing the levels of emissions allowed under the Clean Air Act and allowing dumping of mining waste in rivers as part of the Clean Water Act. Indeed Bush was described by Dr Brent Blackwelder, President of Friends of the Earth US as "the most planet-trashing president in US history."

Note

1. A rally will take place from Lincolns Inn Fields (from 6.30 pm) to the United States Embassy (speakers from 8.30pm) on Thursday 4 November to urge the USA to take action on global climate change. The rally is organised by the Campaign against Climate Change, and supported by Friends of the Earth, the World Development Movement and the Green Party. Speakers will include: Jean Lambert MEP (Green Party), Bryony Worthington (Friends of the Earth) and Dave Timms (World Development Movement).

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust