renewable energy

As BP today announced fourth quarter profits of $4.1 billion - and a net profit for 2000 of over $14.2 billion - Greenpeace demanded that the company immediately increase its "miserly" investment in renewable energy.

Stephanie Tunmore, Climate Campaigner at Greenpeace, said "These obscene profits are being generated at the expense of the world's climate. We will all eventually pay the price as more frequent floods, storms and extreme weather events take their toll. This money should be ploughed straight back into expanding renewable energy to mitigate climate change. If BP won't do this of its own volition, then the Government should ensure it happens with stringent taxes."

Greenpeace today challenged the oil industry to announce publicly how it will move away from fossil fuels production to renewable energy in response to climate change. A letter to 25 oil companies operating in the UK calls on each to publish a carbon transition strategy by the end of the year.

At the same time, the campaign group put the issue of carbon transition before BP's one million investors by formally submitting a shareholder resolution to the company's AGM. The resolution will be put to the vote on April 19th.

The Labour Government has failed to deliver on its manifesto promise to put the environment at the heart of Government, according to Greenpeace. The organisation was commenting on the expected release today of an audit of the Government's environmental performance over the last four years.

Responding to the Prime Minister's speech on the environment at the Green Alliance/CBI forum, Greenpeace Executive Director, Peter Melchett said:

"We are pleased that the Prime Minister today accepted the Royal Commission's case that we need to cut C02 emissions by at least 60% by 2050 and his recognition that this will have to mean substantial investment in offshore wind, solar and other renewable technology (1). His announcement of some new money for offshore wind is a welcome first step but we need to see the Government move much further and more quickly."

"Greenpeace welcomes Tony Blair's tribute today to the existing alliance between environmentalists and progressive companies such as Greenpeace's Greenfreeze refrigeration technology."

'The Wind' a remarkable new short film commissioned by Greenpeace and directed by Julien Temple, will receive its world premier at the Greenpeace Business Conference in London today (5 October 2000).

'The Wind' celebrates the massive, but as yet untapped, potential of renewable energy resources in Europe in the 21st Century. It also highlights the very real dangers of climate change and the impact this is already having on people's lives throughout the world.