ID :
11934
Wed, 07/09/2008 - 18:59
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/11934
The shortlink copeid
GREENPEACE URGES PRESIDENT TO REMIND G8 OF COMMITMENT TO PROTECT ENVIRONMENT
Jakarta, July 8 (ANTARA) - Greenpeace has urged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who is attending the G8 Summit outreach session in Hokkaido, Japan, to remind the developed countries of their commitment to protecting forests and the global climate.
"G8 member countries must realize that forest protection is very crucial for the preservation of biodiversity and mitigating climate change," Bustar Maitar, a Greenpeace forest campaigner for Southeast Asia, said here on Tuesday.
One-fifth of the total volume of greenhouse gas emissions came from the conversion of tropical rain forests, and therefore the governments grouped in G8 must support the establishment of a funding mechanism to preserve forests, he said.
Greenpeace wanted the United Nations, not the World Bank, to lead forest protection efforts in support of the Kyoto Protocol, he said.
The environmental NGO also urged the Indonesian government to demonstrate genuine leadership by taking concrete actions to stop forest degradation seriously.
"Being a genuine leader means keeping one's promises. A moratorium on deforestation is a crucial step that must be taken by the Indonesian government as a concrete gesture to the world that Indonesia is serous in fighting climate change," he said.
The G8 Summit in Hokkaido, from July 7 to 9, was expected to discuss such global issues as climate change and the food price crisis.
Recently, the Greenpeace office in Thailand had called on G8 countries to take decisive actions against climate change, pointing out that developing countries like Thailand would suffer the dire consequences of the inaction of the world's richest countries.
"Climate change is the greatest threat humanity is facing, and has mainly been caused by G8 countries. Over 80 percent of the emissions in the atmosphere today have been produced by the G8. These countries still emit more than 40 percent of global CO2 emissions, despite being home to only 13 percent of the global population but it is the developing countries that will bear the brunt of climate change. It is the responsibility of the G8 leaders to make clear and binding commitments to fight climate change," said Tara Buakamsri, campaign manager of Greenpeace Southeast Asia in Thailand.
"G8 member countries must realize that forest protection is very crucial for the preservation of biodiversity and mitigating climate change," Bustar Maitar, a Greenpeace forest campaigner for Southeast Asia, said here on Tuesday.
One-fifth of the total volume of greenhouse gas emissions came from the conversion of tropical rain forests, and therefore the governments grouped in G8 must support the establishment of a funding mechanism to preserve forests, he said.
Greenpeace wanted the United Nations, not the World Bank, to lead forest protection efforts in support of the Kyoto Protocol, he said.
The environmental NGO also urged the Indonesian government to demonstrate genuine leadership by taking concrete actions to stop forest degradation seriously.
"Being a genuine leader means keeping one's promises. A moratorium on deforestation is a crucial step that must be taken by the Indonesian government as a concrete gesture to the world that Indonesia is serous in fighting climate change," he said.
The G8 Summit in Hokkaido, from July 7 to 9, was expected to discuss such global issues as climate change and the food price crisis.
Recently, the Greenpeace office in Thailand had called on G8 countries to take decisive actions against climate change, pointing out that developing countries like Thailand would suffer the dire consequences of the inaction of the world's richest countries.
"Climate change is the greatest threat humanity is facing, and has mainly been caused by G8 countries. Over 80 percent of the emissions in the atmosphere today have been produced by the G8. These countries still emit more than 40 percent of global CO2 emissions, despite being home to only 13 percent of the global population but it is the developing countries that will bear the brunt of climate change. It is the responsibility of the G8 leaders to make clear and binding commitments to fight climate change," said Tara Buakamsri, campaign manager of Greenpeace Southeast Asia in Thailand.
