20
Nov 2008 - Brussels, Belgium - The communication
on the European Union and the Arctic region
released today’s by the European Commission
is seen by WWF as an important contribution
to the goal of ensuring that the Arctic
is not destroyed by a new natural resources
rush.
However, WWF has noted
the intention of some countries and oil
companies to exploit arctic petroleum resources.
In consideration of its fragile arctic environment,
and the complete lack of any technical ability
to clean up oil spills in ice covered waters,
WWF calls for a moratorium on oil development
in the Arctic at least until such clean
up ability has been demonstrated.
“Many arctic species
are already under stress from human activities
and climate change. There is a strong need
for avoiding additional pressures on the
environment caused by unsustainable exploitative
activities. The Arctic requires a shared
approach to governance with ecosystems conservation
as a core value to the benefit of future
generations,” says Neil Hamilton, Director
of WWF International’s Arctic Programme.
The Arctic is on the
threshold of historically unprecedented,
potentially dangerous ecological change
which will have global repercussions. The
most prominent change is the severely accelerated
melting of the arctic sea ice, which opens
new opportunities for the exploitation of
arctic resources such as expanded oil and
gas development, new commercial fishing
and increased shipping.
“We are concerned that
the present set of rules for the Arctic
are not strong enough or broad enough to
ensure environmental protection and sustainability
for the region,” Hamilton continued.
“We have seen the damage
caused by historical resource rushes in
this region, and we are concerned that with
the impacts of climate change already being
felt, any new development in the Arctic
must be carefully managed. This means a
comprehensive seamless approach to arctic
governance rather than the current patchwork
of treaties and agreement.”
The communication echoes
WWF’s position that the Arctic environment
requires preservation, that any use of its
resources should be sustainable, and that
a shared and strengthened approach to arctic
governance is required besides the basic
principles provided by the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The Commission communication
follows a resolution passed recently by
the European Parliament that also calls
for improvements to arctic governance and
is the basis for the development of an EU
Arctic policy.
Clive Tesar, Head of Communications
WWF International Arctic Programme
Claudia Delpero, Communications Manager
+ More
Greek PM inundated with
e-cards for climate action
21 Nov 2008
Athens, Greece: More than 3,000 Greek citizens
have responded to a WWF call over the past
four days by sending their Prime Minister,
Kostas Karamanlis, a WWF e-card asking him
to take an active part in the global efforts
to fight climate change.
In the card is a projection
of what Thessaloniki, Greece’s second biggest
city, could look like around the middle
of this century if action is not taken to
stem global warming.
The senders also ask
the PM to show the necessary political will
during the next UN Climate Conference, in
Poznan, Poland from 1-12 December 2008,
where world leaders will be called upon
to decide a 60-80 per cent reduction in
CO2 emissions.
“Greece is a country
which can develop sustainably based on clean
energy and low greenhouse emissions,” said
Demetres Karavellas, Director of WWF Greece.
“Our country is capable
of responding to the challenge of climate
change, given the right vision and the political
will and given that the policies and measures
are in place.”
The e-card action follows
a new WWF Greece report prepared by Ecofys
confirming that Greece can reduce its greenhouse
gas emissions within the range proposed
by the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate
Change for the year 2050.
The study, “Solutions
for climate change: a low carbon vision
for Greece in 2050” defines a a CO2 emission
reduction of up to 67 per cent by 2050.
It says the energy and
construction sectors can help achieve the
lion’s share of the reductions and cut emissions
by up to 93 per cent by 2050.
In addition, renewable
energy sources could generate 58 per cent
of all power in 2050 while increased energy
efficiency would result in more than half
the envisaged emission reductions.
EU Environment Commissioner
Stavros Dimas prefaced the WWF Greece report
stressing that: “This is one of the most
important reports that have been completed
to date, presenting actions that a country
like Greece could take in order to contribute
in the common effort to combat the world
climate challenge.”
