[GPCA Updates] GP ADVISORY Global Greens forum on Dec. 13 during Copenhagen conference to address global warming

Wed Dec 9 16:41:46 PST 2009

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Global Greens forum on December 13 to address global warming during UN
Copenhagen Climate Conference

• Green Party leaders from around the world to participate; US Greens
challenge Obama to stop appeasing corporate polluters and peddling inadequate
measures

• Green Party Speakers Bureau: US Greens available to speak on ecological
sustainability and global warming
http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-ecological.php

WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders from every corner of the globe will
participate in a public forum in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Sunday, December 13,
during the United Nations Copenhagen Climate Conference.

Titled "Copenhagen and beyond: delivering a meaningful deal on climate change"
(http://www.globalgreens.org/event/copenhagen_climate_change), the Global
Greens event will take place 6 pm at Klimaforum09, DGI-byen, Tietgensgade 65,
1704 København.  The forum is the only time they will speak together on one
stage, outlining their views on what a meaningful climate agreement is and how
it can be achieved.

With the outcome of the UN climate talks in Copenhagen uncertain; this forum
will give a Green perspective on how a meaningful and sufficient global deal
on climate change can be reached before it is too late. The leading Green
politicians participating in the forum advocate a strong climate treaty and
will play important roles in decision-making at all levels.

"Copenhagen is up against real deadline, not just those set by international
diplomats," said Elizabeth May leader of the Green Party of Canada
(http://www.greenparty.ca).  "The real deadlines are in the risk of run-away
global warming...The atmosphere is not negotiating with humanity.  To save
ourselves and future generations, GHG levels globally must stop rising no
later than 2016.  Copenhagen cannot be allowed to fail."

In December 2007, Global Greens, representing 70 Green Parties and Green
groups (http://www.globalgreens.org), including the Green Party of the United
States, issued a declaration on reduction of greenhouse gases that called for
establishment "of a binding regime for global greenhouse gas reductions which
is consistent with avoiding dangerous climate change"
(http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2007_12_07.shtml).  See also "Global Greens Second
Congress 2008 -- Climate Change -- Time for Transformation Declaration"
(http://www.globalgreens.org/brazil2008/declarations/climate_change_time_for_transformation).

"President Obama must step up to the plate in Copenhagen and provide
leadership.  The US has been the main culprit in climate change, remaining the
world's worst emitter of greenhouse gases, blocking international action, and
protecting corporate polluters.  We're relieved that Mr. Obama has dropped the
Bush Administration's policy of denial.  But the Obama Administration's
priority is still stage management -- providing political cover while
proposing to do too little too late and peddling the woefully inadequate
climate change bills pending in Congress," said said Mike Feinstein, co-chair
of the Green Party of the United States and former mayor of Santa Monica,
California.  Mr. Feinstein attended the December 2007 UN Framework Convention
on Climate Change in Bali (http://unfccc.int/2860.php); in 2001, during his
tenure, Santa Monica became the first US city to use 100% renewable energy for
all municipal facilities.

US Greens have called for an end to subsidies and tax breaks to fossil and
nuclear energy industries; enactment of socially equitable carbon taxes;
incentives, legislation, and reforms to provide renewable energy technologies;
rejection of environmentally destructive 'alternative' fuels produced from
unsustainable or toxic feedstocks; rejection of 'clean coal'; comprehensive
planning to protect and conserve water resources; an absolute limit on CO2
emissions; reduced fossil fuel use and an 80% cutback within ten years.

Earlier this week, the Environmental Protection Agency -- confirming the Green
Party's warnings -- called greenhouse gas emissions a severe threat to public
health and urged strong regulatory measures to curb global warming, without
congressional action if necessary
(http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091207/ap_on_go_ot/us_epa_climate).

Greens in the US insisted that there is "no climate security without peace, no
peace without climate security" and said that the current US wars, especially
President Obama's troop escalation plans for Afghanistan, and global military
spending (about $1.4 trillion per year, at least half from the US) are
impediments to worldwide cooperation in the fight against climate change.

Program for December 13:

• Moderation and introduction by Monica Frassoni, spokesperson of the European
Green Party

• Welcome from Socialistisk Folkeparti, member of Greens/EFA group in the
European Parliament

• Rebecca Harms, co-president of the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament

• Marina Silva, the Brazilian Green Party’s potential presidential candidate;
former Environment Minister of Brazil

• Wangari Maathai, Nobel Laureate, Kenyan Green; former deputy Environment
Minister of Kenya (to be confirmed)

• José Bové, renowned global environmental activist, Green Member of the
European Parliament and former spokesperson of the French small farmers’
association

• Christine Milne, Australian Green Senator and Deputy Leader of the
Australian Greens

• Elizabeth May, Canadian Green Party leader; former Executive Director of the
Sierra Club of Canada

Catherine Grèze, French Green Member of the European Parliament, will
facilitate a discussion with the audience.

MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
• Green candidate database and campaign information:
http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
• Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
• Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
• Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections
• Green Party Livestream Channel http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus

United Nations Copenhagen Climate Conference http://en.cop15.dk

Committees of the Green Party of the United States:
• EcoAction Committee http://www.gp.org/committees/ecoaction/index.php
• International Committee http://www.gp.org/committees/intl

Green Party resolution on protecting water resources
http://gp.org/cgi-bin/vote/propdetail?pid=380

Green Pages: The official publication of record of the Green Party of the
United States
Fall 2009 issue now online
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog

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