Herewith the risingtide political statement as it has been made for the coming climate conference in germany, organised in Bonn from July 16-27. please sign and join actions either in Bonn, or in your own community as part of the struggle for global equity and climate justice. Also, never forget to connect climate/ environmental justice issues with any social-economic struggle your dealing with!
See for more information:
http://www.risingtide.de (German)
http://www.risingtide.nl (International/
Dutch)
http://www.risingtide.org.uk (International/
British)
pls email: climate_bonn@yahoo.de for more information. pls send the message in your own network.
self-description:
Risingtide sees itself as a decentral organised outer-parliamentarian capitalism-criticizing network. Our aim is to build up a broad alliance to organize protests during the next climate conference in Bonn. In a long term view, the network should be used for future projects. All groups and individuals, who identify themselves with the aims and ascertainments listed below can join. Excluded are and will be discriminating groups and individuals.
Summary of contents It is scientifically proved that the human being is, among other factors, responsible for global climate change. The first consequences are visible today in form of a changed regional climate and an increase of natural disasters (e.g. floods, heat and cold waves, hurricanes, etc.). In the next hundred years, we have to expect a high increase of temperature, with a shifting of the climate regions, a decrease of biodiversity (about 1/3 of all species of animals and plants will extinct) and a heavy rise of the sea level. One of the main reasons for climate change is the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2). CO2 is mainly produced by burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas). The industrialized countries are responsible for the output of 80% of the whole CO2-Emissions. Developing countries and countries in transformation are especially exposed to the negative effects of global change, because of their spacial position and the lack of technology to adapt the countries to the new environmental situation. In about ten years we have to calculate with 150 million environmental refugees.
At the world climate conference in Bonn from 16th to 27th of July, the Kyoto-protocol, which includes a CO2 reduction of 5,2 % betweenthe years 2008-2012, counted from the baseline year 1990, should be made ready for ratification. Developing countries are excluded from reductions in this commitment period. The scientific body of the UN, the IPCC has quoted, that at least a 60% reduction of CO2 will be necessary to stabilize the global climate. Most affected are developing countries, small island states as well as local communities, indigenous societies and environmental and economical refugees which are not or insufficient represented at the UN talks. On the other hand transnational companies and the economy-lobby (e.g. nuclear energy, oil) are over-represented. Beside the ratification of the Kyoto protocol, one of the remaining questions is about instruments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Mainly discussed are the so called "Flexible mechanisms" and the accounting of "CO2 sinks". The flexible mechanisms are divided in the "Clean Development Mechanisms" (CDM/ counting projects for CO2 reductions in developing countries), "Joint Implementation"(project cooperation with other industrialized countries) and the "Emissions Trading" (the trading of carbon certificates between industrialized countries). The count of "Flexible Mechanisms" would reduce the costs of the industrial countries, but consists of many loopholes. Sinks could be defined as forests and other vegetated areas. Plants take up CO2 when they grow and release it when they die. Some examples: Nuclear energy, for example, could be included in the treaty as a CO2 reduction measure, although it is absolutely uneconomically and includes incalculable risks for the human being and the environment, furthermore nuclear power, seen in its entirety, produces as well a lot of CO2. The economy of Russia has broken down 1990. With that, Russia has reduced more CO2 emissions than they need to. Now they could sell their surplus to other countries. Existing forests can be cut down to plant fast growing genetic manipulated trees with higher CO2 take up capacity. The effects of global climate change should not be seen just mono causal in an ecological content. In the actual talks neo-colonialism and neo-liberal tendencies have a strong significance.
1.0 Ascertainments 1.1 The aim of the Kyoto-protocol to reduce CO2 emissions by 5,2% is not enough. 1.2 The worldwide CO2 emissions have to be reduced as fast as possible at least by 60%. 1.3 The UN-talks will not be able to stabilize the global climate, as long as social justice and environmental considerations are put aside by the dominance of the interests of the transnational companies. 1.4 The recent economical process of today is not sustainable . It speeds up global climate change. 1.5 The concepts of globalisation and neo-liberalism are not compatible with the protection of global climate. The global climate change can not be stopped with mechanisms of market economy.
Aims
2.0 Measures of Reduction 2.1 CO2 reductions have to be carried out in the industrialized countries, that means, the count of "flexible mechanisms" is not permissible. "CO2 sinks" as well should not count. 2.2 To stabilize the global climate, the green house reduction measures have to be carried out in the polluting country. For that, there has to be a change in society and politics, directed to energy saving and environmental soundsources of energy. 2.3 The use of non- renewable energy sources (oil, coal and gas) need to stop. 2.4 Nuclear energy is and will never be an energy solution. 2.5 All human beings and states should be conscious of the global climate responsibility and should realize independently of all climate treaties the necessity of measures in a sufficient way to stabilize the global climate.
3.0 Equity 3.1 All humans have the equal right to sustainable use of the atmosphere and agreed emissions of greenhouse gases. We have to take into account the different consumption of energy in different climate regions (for example tropical regions vs. arctic regions).
4.0 Adaptation and solidarity 4.1 The socioeconomic vulnerability of all countries has to be reduced. This is valid especially for developing countries. The industrialized countries have to provide sustainable technologies for free, so that the developing countries are able to adapt themselves to changed environmental conditions. All countries have to develop in a sustainable way. 4.2 Environmental refugees will be supported now and in future. They will be recognized as environmental refugees, while we have to fight the causes of climate change.
Signing groups and organisations
Risingtide Bonn
Tel. (risingtide): 0228-9637773, Fax: 9637774 (Germany)
email: climate_bonn@yahoo.de
http://www.risingtide.de