Bangkok, 1 May 2007The message is clear: we must choose clean and safe
energy solutions–anything else is a betrayal to the earths future
generations. Greenpeace and SolarGeneration youth issued this challenge
to world governments this week as they presented renewable energy and
energy efficiency solutions at the opening of the UNs Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group III meeting held in Bangkok.
SolarGeneration, students campaigning for the greater use of renewable
energy around the world, spoke out as they met wth IPCC Chair Dr.
Rajendra Pachauri, a special guest at their SolarGeneration kiosk just
outside the meeting venue at the UN Convention Center. Dr Pachauri
addressed the students, representing youth from the Philippines,
Thailand, India, Indonesia, China, Germany, and France, and acknowledged
the importance of youth involvement on climate change issues.
The only climate change solutions we want are those that will guarantee
a safer and better future. Our governments should not consider proposals
which will do more harm than good, said Karla de Guia, a
SolarGeneration member from the Philippines. We believe that renewable
energy is the only perfect solution.
The IPCC meets in Bangkok to discuss policy recommendations to mitigate
climate change. The report will be made public at the end of the meeting
on Thursday. Various press agencies have reported that options expected
to be presented in the meeting will range from energy efficiency and the
use of renewable energy to dangerous and untested technologies such as
nuclear and carbon capture and storage.
Greenpeace is asking governments around the world to take immediate
action to revolutionize global energy production and use in response to
repeated dire warnings on climate change issued on two earlier IPCC
meetings this year.
The only acceptable solutions are the massive uptake of clean,
renewable energy, and energy efficiency. Greenpeace has shown that the
world can have safe, robust renewable energy, that we can achieve the
efficiencies needed. We can do all this even while phasing out damaging
and dangerous sources such as coal and nuclear. And we need to do this
now, said Greenpeace Southeast Asia Climate & Energy Campaigner Tara
Buakamsri.
Greenpeace last week lauched a report entitled Energy [R]evolution: A
sustainable East Asia Energy Outlook, which details how renewable
energy, combined with efficiencies from the smart use of energy, can
deliver half of the worlds energy needs by 2050.
The report comes at a time when countries in Asia are considering
various alternatives to climate harmful fossil fuel energy sources.
SolarGeneration youth are urging their governments to make the right
choices.
Right now my government is pushing for nuclear power plants. But I
dont want nuclear power plants in my country or in other country
because it is dangerous and unsafe. Its not a good choice for the
future, said Ivy Londa, a SolarGeneration member from Indonesia.
Greenpeace is an independent, campaigning organization which uses
non-violent, creative confrontation to expose global environment
problems, and to force the solutions which are essential to a green and
peaceful future.
For more information:
Currently in Bangkok:
Abigail Jabines, Climate and Energy Campaigner, +63 917 886 4767
Lea Guerrrero, Media Campaigner, +63 916 374 4969
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