FoE International News

Friends of the Earth International is a federation of autonomous organisations from all over the world. Our members, in 76 countries, campaign on the most urgent environmental and social issues, while working towards sustainable societies.

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Win on GM crops in Europe

Germany-based BASF is halting the development and commercialisation of genetically modified (GM) crops in Europe. "This is another nail in the coffin for genetically modified foods in Europe" said FoE Europe's Adrian Bebb.

Durban climate talks 'smoke and mirrors'

The annual United Nations climate talks were held in Durban, South Africa, in December. Phil Lee from the FoE International Secretariat said:

Developed countries engaged in a smoke and mirrors trick of delivering rhetoric but no action, failed to commit to urgently needed deep emissions cuts, and even backtracked on past commitments to address the climate crisis.

The outcome of the Durban talks, heralded by some as a step forward, in fact amounts to:

• No progress on fair and binding action on reducing emissions
• No progress on urgently needed climate finance
• Increased likelihood of further expansion of false solutions like carbon trading
• The further locking in of economies based on polluting fossil fuels
• The further unravelling of the legally-binding international framework to deliver climate action on the basis of science and equity.

More information: foei.org/en/what-we-do/climate-and-energy

The disastrous Durban talks inspired FoE groups worldwide to collaborate on a series of exposés of the corporate capture of UN institutions − read more at foei.org/en/what-we-do/corporate-capture

In the REDD: Australia's push for forest carbon offsets

Australian lobbyists used the Durban climate talks to push for decisions to establish forest carbon offsets for trade in the carbon market. FoE believes that these REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) projects are an ineffective 'solution' to tackling climate change and also take the world further away from stopping deforestation and forest degradation.

A FoE International report released in December is written by Australians Rebecca Pearse and Julia Dehm. They visited Indonesia to examine the Kalimantan Forests and Climate Partnership, the world's first large scale REDD pilot project that was set up between Australia and Indonesia.

The report finds that the REDD project is failing to deliver on promised benefits. It does not guarantee Indigenous Peoples' rights, it conflicts with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, it has created confusion among local groups, and it faces ongoing local opposition.

Moreover the project is failing to contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions as palm oil firms involved are illegally clearing land in nearby areas, which are supposed to be under a deforestation moratorium. Yet another problem is that projects such as the Kalimantan Forests and Climate Partnership allow Australian companies to carry on polluting while hiding behind offset credits from the REDD scheme.

The report, 'In the REDD: Australia's carbon offset project in central Kalimantan', is posted at foei.org/en/resources/publications/forests-and-biodiversity

FoE International supports Occupy movement

A FoE International statement released in late 2011 states: "We offer our solidarity and our support, and we join this [Occupy] movement wholeheartedly. To save our communities and our environment, we stand united in calling for a profound transformation of the current globalised political economic system."

FoE International chair Nnimmo Bassey said: "We are one with those who raise their voices against corporate greed and who speak out for social equity and real solutions to the crises we face. Economic policies that prioritise profit over life have led us to the brink of catastrophic climate change; continuing with the same approach will only lead to more environmental destruction and inequality. This is system failure – we demand an alternative system with environmental and economic justice at its core."

foei.org/en/what-we-do/economic-justice

European banks fuelling hunger

European banks, pension funds and insurance companies are increasing global hunger and poverty by speculating on food prices and financing land grabs in poorer countries, according to a report by FoE Europe.

The report analyses the activities of 29 European banks, pension funds and insurance companies, including Deutsche Bank, Barclays, RBS, Allianz, BNP Paribas, AXA, HSBC, Generali, Allianz, Unicredit and Credit Agricole. It reveals the significant involvement of these financial institutions in food speculation, and the direct or indirect financing of land grabbing. Environmental and development organisations are calling for strict regulation to rein in these destructive activities.

The January 2012 report, 'Farming money: how European banks and private finance profit from food speculation and land grabs', is posted at foei.org/en/resources/publications/pdfs/2012/farming-money