- Title: FRANCE: Greenpeace float an 16-metre iceberg down the river Seine
- Date: 8th July 2009
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (JULY 7, 2009) (REUTERS) EIFFEL TOWER / GREENPEACE BOAT WITH ICEBERG IN BACKGROUND MODEL ICEBERG IN RIVER SEINE IN FRONT OF EIFFEL TOWER GREENPEACE ACTIVISTS IN BOAT NEAR ICEBERG VARIOUS OF MODEL ICEBERG IN RIVER SEINE / EIFFEL TOWER IN BACKGROUND VARIOUS OF DIRECTOR GENERAL OF GREENPEACE FRANCE, PASCAL HUSTING, LOOKING AT ICEBERG ON RIVER SEINE ICEBERG ON RIVER SEINE (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR GENERAL OF GREENPEACE FRANCE, PASCAL HUSTING, SAYING "Well, this iceberg on the Seine river close to the Eiffel Tower helps us, or will allow us, to issue a serious call upon the world leaders, which will meet tomorrow in Italy in the G8, club of the richest countries of the world. We say that these richest countries of the world have absolutely to assume their responsibility in terms of fighting climate change." PEOPLE PASSING ON BRIDGE / MODEL ICEBERG IN FOREGROUND (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR GENERAL OF GREENPEACE FRANCE, PASCAL HUSTING, SAYING: "We want G8 leaders to commit to the figures that the scientists have given us. Scientists tell us, in order to avoid runaway climate change, we absolutely have to limit the global increase of temperature below two degrees. In order to do so, G8 countries must commit to a 40 percent reduction of their greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 compared to 1990. And finally, they also have to commit to financing the mitigation and adaptation efforts of the developing countries, these countries which are the first victims, although they are not at all responsible for climate change." VARIOUS OF MODEL ICEBERG ON RIVER SEINE
- Embargoed: 23rd July 2009 04:05
- Keywords:
- Location: France
- Country: France
- Topics: Nature / Environment
- Reuters ID: LVAEI9V9YGLHA2EA7WQBNVYSK1C1
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: It is not every day you see icebergs in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. But on Tuesday (July 7), the French arm of Greenpeace floated a 16-metre model iceberg on the River Seine to draw attention to climate change.
The inflatable balloon was placed by the international organisation, which promotes environmental conservation, in time for G8 meetings due to take place in the earthquake ravaged town of L'Aquila, Italy.
"This iceberg on the Seine river close to the Eiffel Tower helps us, or will allow us, to issue a serious call upon the world leaders, which will meet tomorrow in Italy in the G8, club of the richest countries of the world," said Pascal Husting, director general of Greenpeace France.
"We say that these richest countries of the world have absolutely to assume their responsibility in terms of fighting climate change," Husting added.
The group want to draw attention to what they say is the inertia of western governments to act on their promises toward climate change, which comes almost five months ahead of COP15, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.
Husting says that in the face of US President Barack Obama's "incapability" to bring governments in line to reduce global warming, Europe must keep up their initiatives and come through on their pledges.
"We want G8 leaders to commit to the figures that the scientists have given us," Husting said.
"Scientists tell us, in order to avoid runaway climate change, we absolutely have to limit the global increase of temperature below two degrees. In order to do so, G8 countries must commit to a 40 percent reduction of their greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 compared to 1990. And finally, they also have to commit to financing the mitigation and adaptation efforts of the developing countries, these countries which are the first victims, although they are not at all responsible for climate change," he added.
With eyes upon December's United Nations (U.N.) summit, which is expected to produce a substitute for the 1997 Kyoto pact, G8 leaders meeting in Italy will try to narrow differences over cuts in greenhouse gas emissions and funding for low carbon technology.
The leaders of the major industrialised countries are likely to agree on a goal to limit global warming to no more than two degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times and to strengthen the vaguely-worded "vision" of halving global carbon emissions by 2050, agreed last year.
These commitments could also be adopted by the 17-member Major Economies Forum, which meets on the second day of the summit and includes major developing economies. India and China have so far refused to adopt a 2050 target until rich nations set ambitious near term aims: A deal would mark a significant step toward a new U.N. climate pact in December.
Greenpeace is among ten environmental groups trying to gather one million signatures to send in a petition to French President Nicolas Sarkozy on the issue of climate change.
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