NEWS: If They Can Act On Gatt, They Can Act On Global Warming
Jym Dyer
IF THEY CAN ACT ON GATT, THEY CAN ACT ON GLOBAL WARMING
LONDON JULY 17 1991 (GP) -- The G7's deadline on the GATT today
proved the politicians can act on an issue if they are serious
about it, Greenpeace said today.
"For the first time in years, the G7 has produced more than just
words," said spokesperson Yasuko Matsumoto. "But they haven't
reached that stage on the environment.
"They say that no issue has more far-reaching implications for
the future prospects of the world economy than the Uruguay Round.
But the implications of global warming will affect economies,
trade, and the future of this planet. In a greenhouse world,
GATT will be irrelevant.
"We are horrified at the weak environmental section of the
communique. John Major has clearly done a deal with George Bush
to put off any action on the environment until next year's UN
Summit in Brazil.
"The words on global warming also bear the smell of United States
intransigence. An earlier draft of the communique specifically
referred to the urgent need to cut CO2 emissions, and to ensure
no "double counting" of gases covered by the Montreal Protocol.
Both those references have now been deleted.
We agree wholeheartedly with the G7 when they talk of the need
for energy prices to reflect the full costs, including
environmental costs. [para 18]
"But we are stunned at their inconsistency in the very next
paragraph where they promote nuclear power. The economic and
environmental costs of the nuclear energy industry would price it
right off the market.
"It is ironic that the communique states that industrial
countries should set an example on the environment. The only
example set today by the G7 on the environment is one of
procrastination," said Ms Matsumoto.
For further information, please contact Yasuko Matsumoto at the
conference, 44 426 948 428
or Steve Elsworth 44 305 786 159.
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