Help us Bail out the Planet

Dear friends,

On Tuesday, three hundred and forty concerned citizens gathered in Brussels to block the exits of the building where European finance ministers were discussing funding for climate change. We wanted to keep them inside until they came up with money to tackle climate change in developing countries.

European leaders recognise that rich countries must provide funds to developing nations so that they can reduce greenhouse gas emmissions and adapt to climate change. So far, they have not put a single euro on the table. Each country’s contribution towards a climate bailout plan is based on its ability to pay and its level of responsibility in causing climate change. Based on this, European governments should contribute €35 billion a year by 2020, the equivalent of just €1.30 a week per European citizen. The price of a bus ticket.

In spite of our best efforts, ministers continued to dither yesterday. Once all of the protesters had been arrested, they managed to leave the building without committing a cent of public money. Instead they had made an empty promise for investments from the private sector, which they can neither predict nor control.

Now it is up to Heads of States to make the final decision at the EU Summit next week, 19-20 March. If they also fail to come up with solid financial support, it will threaten the success of a deal at the UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen this December. And that will literally cost us the earth.

The Polish government is being particularly obstructive to progress. It is avoiding the funding issue and does not want to take the responsibility for its huge emissions and contribution to climate change.

Help us to convince polish Prime Minister Mr. Tusk not to block the climate change deal.

Mr. Tusk talks of solidarity. Without global solidarity we will not solve the climate crisis. Send him an e-mail asking him to live up to his words by showing solidarity to developing countries’ efforts to avert and adapt to climate change.

No money, no deal, no future.
Every letter is important.

Thank you for your attention,

Eoin, Agnes & the entire Climate Team
Greenpeace International