CLINTON GIVES IN TO OIL, COAL AND CAR INDUSTRY AT EARTH SUMMIT

New York, 26 June 1997

The US failure to announce CO2 reducction targets and timetables indicates that the Whie House has yet to stand up to the pressure of the fossil fuel industry," Greenpeace said today after President Clinton's speech to the UN General Assembly. However, the speech one day before the end of the UNGASS meeting, also known as Rio plus 5, announced a one million solar roof program for the United States.

"Only a couple of days after major lobbying efforts by fossil fuel industry which ran full page advertisements in US media, Clinto was not prepared to deliver what is needed," commented Bill Hare, Climate Policy Director of Greenpeace International. but the environmental pressure group did not see it as afinal blow for the climate Summit to be held in December in Kyoto.

Over the last the days the Special Session has reaffirmed that Climate change is the most important environmental issue on the world stage. "in reaffirming the need for "signifcant reductions", Clinton can only postpone but not evade the question of targets and timelines if he wants to remain credible in international negotiations," said Hare

"In a small but significant way, the Clinton administration has sent a message to the market place that solar power is leaving its niche to compete with oil, gas and coal. Greenpeace is calling for a 20 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions below 1990 levels by the year 2005 and is campaigning for the phase out of fossil fuels and their replacement with solar energy.

For more information contact:

Bill Hare 1-917-842 027

Holger Roenitz 1-917-842 3837