Greenpeace Rescue Unit on Scene!
Washington, D.C., United States — Greenpeace activists and emergency vehicles descend on the Chamber of Commerce in response to a climate emergency.
This global warming crime scene was quickly taped off by Greenpeace activists as a hostage negotiator attempted to make contact with the group. Tension mounted as the negotiator and activists attempted to convince the Chamber to “put down the coal, step away from the climate talks, and set the world free.”
The Greenpeace climate crime unit intervened at the scene of the crime, confronting the lobbyists who work for the very industries who create and profit from criminal climate destruction.
The Chamber and its clients have a history of climate crimes, and clearly their motive is to maintain the obscene profits of their clients. Already, an estimated 300,000 people die every year as a result of the global warming that the Chamber’s clients contribute to. In the coming year, it’s crucial that President Obama not allow climate criminals like industry lobbyists to handcuff progress on global warming.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 17, 2009
Greenpeace Emergency Response Unit Declares the US Chamber of Commerce a
Climate Crime Scene: Industry Lobbyists Hold Obama’s Climate Policy
Hostage in Copenhagen
WASHINGTON, DC—As Obama prepares to leave for the Copenhagen climate
talks this afternoon, Greenpeace activists staged an emergency response
at the US Chamber of Commerce today, directly across from the White
House. Activists ascended 25-foot ladders and crisscrossed the building
with oversized crime scene tape reading: “Climate Policy Hostage Area//
Global Warming Crime Scene.” The US Chamber of Commerce has committed a
series of climate crimes including: misinformation of the public on the
issue of climate change, stalling action on global warming legislation,
and holding the international climate talks hostage. Activists are
calling on President Obama to show leadership and shed the influence of
lobbyists.
The fleet of climate emergency vehicles: four squad cars from the
Climate Crime Unit and an ambulance from the “Climate Emergency Response
Unit” reacted rapidly to the situation. Greenpeace activists marked
off the area immediately in front of the Chamber, along H Street, with
“Global Warming Crime Scene” tape.
Jim Riccio, chief Climate Policy Hostage Negotiator, was on the scene,
working to negotiate the safe release of President Obama’s climate
policy from the hands of industry lobbyists. At the time of this
release, it was unclear if the negotiations would be effective, and
would lead to a strong deal at the talks in Copenhagen. “The stakes are
high,” said Riccio, “But we’re all hoping everyone comes out of this
situation alive. These climate criminals need to know: survival is not
negotiable.”
“President Obama owes it to Americans and all people threatened by
climate change to listen to scientists, not polluter lobbyists. The US
Chamber of Commerce has been undermining our climate policy for too long
– and they are now preventing us from getting a fair, ambitious and
binding deal in Copenhagen,” said Greenpeace Climate Campaigner Gabe
Wisniewski.
To date, the US has only agreed to a provisional goal of cutting
greenhouse pollution by 4 percent below 1990 levels. This offer falls
dangerously short of the necessary 25-40 percent cut identified by the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to have the best chance of
avoiding the worst impacts of global warming. These weak commitments
from the US are part of the reason the Copenhagen talks are reaching
such a tepid result. The Chamber spent millions lobbying to weaken the
House-passed legislation earlier this year.
While the proposed U.S. climate legislation remains weak, President
Obama has the legal authority to implement far more rigorous greenhouse
gas regulations under the Clean Air Act and join an international
agreement with or without Senate ratification.
Photos and video will be available at:
Flickr.com/photos/greenpeaceusa09
