06.07.2007
European Greens say that Live Earth Concerts must
be followed by real action on climate change by world’s political leaders
The spokespersons of the European Green Party today
said that the Live Earth Concerts scheduled to take place in several major
cities worldwide on Saturday 7th July should send a message to
governments that they must take the action necessary to curb the disastrous
effects of climate change.
EGP Co-Spokesperson Ulrike
Lunacek said: “The Live Earth concerts
organised by Al Gore and Kevin Wall are an important way of raising public
awareness of climate change and encouraging governments, corporations and
individuals to take action to minimise the effects of global warming. We are
sure that these events will get an enthusiastic response from audiences
worldwide (the concerts will be broadcast live to a worldwide audience
estimated to be 2 billion) and we hope that those individuals will make changes
to their lifestyles which will reduce their CO2 emissions. However, if these
concerts are really to make a significant impact on the problem of climate
change, then governments and political leaders worldwide, including in the EU,
must deal with the issue with a much greater sense of urgency than they have
done up to now .”
EGP Co-Spokesperson Philippe
Lamberts went on to outline the measures which
politicians have to take if they are serious about tackling the issue of
climate change: “All credible scientific analysis shows that a 30 %
reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020 is necessary if the most disastrous effects
of climate change are to be avoided. The recent G8 summit in Heiligendamm
failed to commit to binding targets for even a 20 % reduction. This shows that
our political leaders are shirking their responsibility to take meaningful
action on climate change. In contrast, we in the EGP have a detailed and
practical strategy to combat climate change which was approved at our last
Council Meeting in
Both Spokespersons concluded:” The Live Earth concerts
will show once again that the people of the world recognise the seriousness of
the threat posed by climate change. Politicians must respond to this call to
action and implement the measures which will make a real difference, such as
those advocated by the European Greens.” Lunacek and Lamberts concluded.
Graham Burgess
Communications Officer
European Green Party
email:
Tel no: +32 2 626 0724
Mobile no: +32 477 902 023