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Environmental Roundup: June 13, 2008

Lieberman-Warner Wasn't Fixed, So it Was Ditched

When the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act first started moving in the Senate, Friends of the Earth was the first to analyze and condemn its $1 trillion in handouts to the fossil fuel industry.  What's more, the bill's targets for carbon emission reductions fell far short of what scientific consensus determined was needed to avoid catastrophic global warming impacts. We called for the bill to fixed with regard to its handouts and targets, and if it couldn't be fixed, we asked that the bill be ditched.

While Sen. Barbara Boxer did reduce the bill's handouts before it came to the Senate floor this month, the money going to the fossil fuel industry remained at an unacceptable $500 billion - and the short-term reduction targets became even weaker.  By this time Friends of the Earth was no longer alone, and called on the Senate again to fix or ditch this bill, joined by over a dozen other groups - including Greenpeace, MoveOn, CREDO Mobile (Working Assets) and Public Citizen.

With no improvements forthcoming, the Lieberman-Warner bill faltered and was pulled from the Senate floor. Friends of the Earth looks forward to working with its growing coalition during the next Congress to advance legislation that meets the demands of our global climate crisis.

Visit our website section on the Lieberman-Warner bill

Read the outstanding article from Dennis Hayes on climate legislation

Also in this issue:

• Progress on Halogenated Fire Retardant Campaign!
• Karen Orenstein Reports Back on trip to Bonn, Germany
• Brent Testifies in front of House Committee

Progress on Halogenated Fire Retardant Campaign!

Friends of the Earth's report Killer Cribs highlighted research showing that in hundreds of studies, halogenated fire retardants have been linked to serious health disorders such as cancer, birth defects, and more - and that most Americans now have halogenated fire retardants in their bodies, with babies and children showing the highest levels.

Along with that report, Friends of the Earth launched a campaign to help convince the giant maker of baby products, Graco, to discontinue using these chemicals.  Friends of the Earth's own Russell Long has since been communicating with Graco's CEO, Doug McGraw, and Graco has now announced that it is willing to change its practices after completing an internal investigation of the problem. We will continue to closely monitor Graco's progress.

Friends of the Earth activists - thanks for your help!

Karen Orenstein Reports Back on Trip to Bonn, Germany

At the beginning of June, Karen Orenstein, a member of our international team, headed to Bonn, Germany for United Nations (UN) Climate Change Talks. The climate discussions are part of a series of UN meetings aimed at reaching a new international climate change deal. The areas of focus in Bonn were finance, technology, and adaptation - all issues very interconnected with Friends of the Earth's campaign to stop World Bank control of climate change funds.

Read more about Karen's trip...

Brent Blackwelder Testifies Before House Committee

Last Thursday, Friends of the Earth President Brent Blackwelder testified before the House Financial Committee in Congress on the US Administration's proposal to establish and fund the World Bank's clean technology fund.

"The World Bank is spectacularly unqualified to manage climate funds due to their long-term practice of financing carbon emissions from oil and gas," Brent said. "Moreover, the Bank's play to control climate funding could undermine the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is the proper place for these funds."

Brent's Testimony | Watch Brent in action! | Friends of the Earth on the proposed CIF