GREENPEACE AND GEORGETOWN STUDENTS SEND A MESSAGE TO CLINTON: "THE SOLUTION IS SOLAR"

Washington, DC, 6 October 1997

Today, Greenpeace activists urged President Clinton to promote solar and renewable power as a solution to global warming. Twenty activists in orange overalls and sunglasses held solar panels and a banner saying "Go Solar" and "The Solution is Solar." The demonstration is taking place at Georgetown University, the site of President Clinton's White House Conference on Climate Change. The Conference is designed to highlight the dangers of global warming and generate support for early action to avert the threat.

The White House Conference comes in the midst of an intense industry lobbying and public relations campaign designed to mislead the US public and block actions to prevent dangerous global warming. "There's no reason why the President can't push for strong cuts in greenhouse gas emissions now because the solutions to climate change are already feasible and on the market," said Kalee Kreider, Director of the Greenpeace USA Climate Campaign.

In December 1997, world governments will gather in Kyoto, Japan, to agree upon measures to address the threat of climate change. Greenpeace and other environmental groups advocate that, as a first step toward stopping global warming, the US cut greenhouse gas emissions (caused by burning coal, oil, and gas) twenty percent below 1990 levels by 2005.

"Since we can only afford to burn a fraction of the known oil, coal, and gas reserves in order to avoid dangerous global warming, it's high time to embrace the solar solutions to climate change," said Kreider. Some of the other solutions to climate change advocated by the organization include: wind and other forms of renewable power, energy and fuel efficiency, and small- scale biomass projects.

In the United States and Europe, governments significantly subsidize fossil fuels and nuclear power over solar and renewable power at a rate of greater than 10 to 1. "In addition to negotiating a strong, legally binding treaty, President Clinton must cut corporate welfare to oil, coal, and gas companies. If there were a level playing field, solar power would enter the market more rapidly."

Solar and other forms of renewable power are not contributors to the greenhouse gas emissions, caused by burning fossil fuels such as coal and oil. The earth's surface receives enough solar energy to supply 10,000 times the world's current energy needs.

**For satellite video feed, it is available between 3:00-3:30 PM EDT today, GALAXY 9, Transponder 22. For photo or video assistance, please contact Andrew Davies at 1 202 319 2432.**

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kalee Kreider, Climate Campaign: On Site (mobile):1 202 236 2579 Office: 1 202 319 2523

Andrew Davies, Media Department: Office: 1 202 319 2432