Greenpeace activists protest World Coal Summit hosted alongside UN climate talks | WPN World People News

Greenpeace activists from over 20 countries protested on the roof of the Ministry of Economics against the World Coal Summit, hosted by the Polish Deputy Prime Minister and running concurrently with the UN climate negotiations in Warsaw. The activists hung a large banner which read, “Who rules the World? Fossil industries or the people?” On the roof were displayed flags from the US, Germany, Australia and many other countries.

Martin Kaiser, Head of the COP19 Delegation for Greenpeace International said:

“Hosting a PR event for the coal industry during a climate conference is a slap in the face to all the people suffering from the catastrophic impacts of climate change. New investments in fossil fuels, like coal and oil, need to be stopped and transferred into renewable energy.”

“As the major producers and users of fossil fuels, rich countries have a moral obligation to help those that, like the Philippines, suffer the knock-on effect from what is being burned in places like Poland. Here, at this COP19 it is absolutely necessary to make a plan to help those who are victimized by our addiction to fossil fuels,” added Kaiser.

A second banner asked ‘Who rules Poland? The coal industry or the people?’ in reference to a poll published on November 12 by the Public Opinion Research Center (CBOS) showing that 89% of Polish citizens are in favor of increasing renewable energy production in Poland, while their government ignores them.

Maciej Muskat, Director of Greenpeace Poland said:

“Politicians are elected to stand up for the will of thepeople, not for the financial interests of an aging, dirty coal industry. Prime Minister Tusk must listen to the people and initiate a shift towards renewable energies.”

Currently representatives of 194 nations are gathered in Warsaw to find ways to address climate change. In light of the recent alarming findings by the IPCC, IEA and others, fossil fuels must be left in the ground and carbon emissions phased out by mid century to prevent catastrophic climate change. The first week of the climate negotiations was overshadowed by a collapse of mitigation ambition by Japan and Australia. [3]

The World Coal Summit is hosted at a moment when climate defenders in many countries show their courage against new investments into coal fired power plants, oil drilling and oil pipelines while governments fail to stand up the fossil fuel industry. “It is tragically offensive that the bosses of the climate-killing coal-industry are being warmly welcomed by the Polish government. Meanwhile the Arctic 30 are still sitting in cold Russian prison cells for their courage to protest peacefully to save the Arctic,” finished Kaiser.

Source: Greenpeace International