TL: GREENPEACE BUSINESS SO: GREENPEACE UK (GP) DT: December 1997/January 1998 INDEX * Beyond Kyoto * Race to Expand Solar Heats Up * Danes Take Lead in Offshore Wind Energy * Achieving CO2 Cuts * Christmas Countdown: Ban on Soft PVC Toys * Buyers Squeeze Canada Logging Companies * Greenfreeze Technology Breakthrough * Exxon Threatens Kyoto Talks * Greenpeace Business Conference Report * News Briefs * Credits BEYOND KYOTO: BUILDING ALLIANCES TO PROMOTE RENEWABLE ENERGY The Kyoto meeting of the Climate Convention should be judged a success or failure on three criteria. First, does it conclude an agreement which leads to a break in emission trends. Second, does it set us on a course to limit temperature and sea level rise to levels that protect nature. Third, will governments revise their thinking, learn from the way that the fossil fuel lobby has been able to hobble the negotiations, and start co- ordinated action to make effective new alliances with the renewable energy industry. The signal that the world needs to see is that governments are giving priority to renewables over fossil fuels. Already Shell and BP are beginning to take "precautionary action" by investing company resources in renewable energy initiatives (see Race to Expand Solar Heats Up) and Shell has spoken out against subsidies for high carbon fuels such as coal and tar sands. International aid funding is also currently being considered to promote off-grid solar electrification for over two billion people without electricity, as an innovative way to reduce future CO2 emissions. The creation of financial incentives for renewables - including solar, wind energy, wave power - and energy conservation and efficiency measures, would have a number of positive effects. It would challenge manufacturing companies to produce more energy efficient products, for example televisions, lightbulbs, radios and automobiles. In Japan, government assistance has spurred domestic electronic manufacturers to take the lead in producing quality solar products. Kyocera and Sharp are already committed to taking a lead over US and European companies. A new international focus on renewables would also help neutralise the current power of the fossil fuel lobby which characterise CO2 emission controls as negative and financially harmful constraints (see Exxon Threatens Kyoto Talks). There are huge opportunities for new sunrise industries. The scope for building strategic alliances between Greenpeace and industry continues to expand. During the 2nd Greenpeace Business conference in October (see Greenpeace Business Conference), wide-ranging discussions took place between company executives and Greenpeace campaigners. A range of new contacts were made and future meetings planned. This issue of Greenpeace Business also highlights some encouraging government and corporate responses to our campaign against soft PVC toys (see Christmas Countdown: Toys'R'Us Bans Soft PVC Toys); reveals how old-growth logging companies in Canada are beginning to lose customers worldwide (see Buyers Squueze Canada Logging Companies); and reports on new greenfreeze products coming onto the market (see Greenfreeze Technology Breakthrough for Water Cooler). RACE TO EXPAND SOLAR HEATS UP Estimating that the total renewable energy market’s value will expand to $250bn by 2020, Shell announced in October that it would be investing $500m in renewables over the next five years, with a particular focus on solar, wind and biomass. The global race to commercialise solar power has entered a critical phase following several key in the past four weeks. Following BP's announcement this summer that it is expanding its solar business, Shell has expanded its own renewables division; the US `Million Roof Top Programme' is progressing; the Italian Government is considering its own solar roof programme; and the UK Government’s Industry Solar Taskforce has called for urgent action from the UK Government to build a British solar industry. More recently the EU draft White Paper on Renewables calls for 0.5m solar roofs for Europe and an export initiative for 0.5m village systems for the developing world. Estimating that the total renewable energy market's value will expand to $250bn by 2020, Shell announced in October that it would be investing $500m in renewables over the next five years, with a particular focus on solar, wind and biomass. Shell expects the global solar market - currently valued at $1bn - to be worth $6bn by 2010 and $25bn by 2020 as production costs fall. Shell intends to increase its currently negligible solar market share to 10% of the global market within five years. In doing this it is clearly planning to match BP Solar’s existing 10% market share. Following its decision to create a renewables `Fifth Arm', in early November, Shell also announced details of immediate expansion plans for solar. Supported by DM 12m of German Government finance, Shell will be investing DM 30m in a new 25MW solar factory in Glesenkirchen. The factory will be a joint venture with Pilkington, which has a 25% share in the project. ASE Americas (owned by RWE) also announced that it will be building a 13MW solar factory in Alzenau. This is again supported by German government grants. The province of Nordrhein-Westfalen, where the Shell plant will be located, has agreed to purchase half the annual output of the Shell factory and to provide DM 50m in market support. Shell’s decision to create a ‘fifth renewable arm’ runs counter to its continued membership of the Global Climate Coalition, the fossil fuel lobby that is preventing political action on climate. The global market in solar energy is predicted to grow by 25% this year fuelled, in part, by the Japanese Government’s programme to install 70,000 solar roofs over the next two years. This year alone the Japanese have installed 3,500 solar rooftops (some 37MW) and the Japanese Government has announced a 20% annual increase in funding for the solar programme – up to $205m for 1998. Japan’s domestic solar industry continues to expand. Kyocera is investing with the aim of reaching a 60MW production volume by year 2000 and Sharp is planning to reach 60MW by 1998. By comparison BP Solar plans to produce 50MW by the year 2000. The US `Million Rooftop Programme' (MRP) is also advancing. At the annual conference of the Utility Photovoltaic Group (UPVG) in New Mexico in October, US Department of Energy officials outlined more details of the programme. Although the MRP is being criticised for failing to offer `up front' capital support from the Federal Government there are signs that the programme could well deliver. The US Government has agreed to finance the installation of solar on 20,000 government buildings and will make current Department of Energy budgets available for support - particularly to match fund utility initiatives. Other finances are likely to come from individual State budgets. Already California, Hawaii and Maryland have `pledged' that they will contribute some 300,000 of the million solar roofs. The electrical utilities are preparing to be the major implementers of the programme, with SMUD leading the way with its ambitious solar programme in Sacramento. In Europe the Italian Government is considering a proposal for a `10,000 Solar Roof' programme to be completed by 2002. The proposal, put forward by ENEL, the Italian state-owned utility, is thought to be designed to provide a market to enable the Italian solar company Eurosolare - 80% owned by Italian oil company Agip - to expand. The programme calls for 80% capital grants for domestic systems and 60% grants for commercial buildings. Last month, the UK Government's Industry Solar Taskforce reported its findings. Set up by Michael Meacher (Environment Minister) and John Battle (Industry & Energy Minister), the task force is composed of a broad cross-section of UK business, including: BP Solar, National Westminster Bank, General Accident and Guardian Royal Exchange. It was established following the election last May to provide ministerial advice on how to support the development of a solar market in the UK. The findings, which echo many of the recommendations made by Greenpeace this year, call for the Government to build a strong solar industry for Britain. The key recommendations were: * minimum 70,000 solar rooftop programme for Britain by 2010 * the provision of capital grants (L5/w) to help drive the market * the provision of a price of 10p/unit for every unit of electricity exported onto the grid * the availability of low interest financing mechanisms. The UK Government is reviewing the future of solar and other renewables and is expected to publish its decisions in early 1998. Contact: Marcus Rand, Greenpeace UK on 0171 865 8218; Solar Task Force Dr Jerry Leggett on 01865 513534 DANES TAKE LEAD IN OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PROJECTS Danish utilities are also interested in building offshore wind plants because new coal plants have been banned in the country, leaving wind as the only major domestic option. Wind energy has become Europe's most successful renewable energy sector (after large-scale hydropower). Wind turbine costs have dropped by 30% and investment in wind has grown by over 20% per annum over the last five years. Significant wind industries have been created in Denmark, Germany and Spain. 100% of turbines in Denmark are built in Denmark; 75% of German wind turbines are locally constructed. In the UK, however, only 15% of turbines installed to date are built in the UK. In 1997 it will be close to zero. Offshore wind development is now gaining momentum in Denmark, spurred on by national goals to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The Danish Government has established an official target of obtaining 10% of the country's electricity supplies from wind by the year 2005. The Danish wind target is part of an overall effort to cut CO2 emissions by 20% from 1988 levels by the year 2005, and by 50% by the year 2030. To meet the 2005 goal, 1,500MW of new installed wind capacity will be needed. Denmark currently has 972MW in place. To meet the 2030 CO2 reduction goal, renewables will have to supply 50% of Denmark's electricity consumption, requiring another 4,000MW of wind capacity, mostly from offshore sites. Four locations in Danish waters were identified in 1995 by the Department of Energy, with a technical potential of approximately 7,000MW. Danish utilities are also interested in building offshore wind plants because new coal plants have been banned in the country, leaving wind as the only major domestic option. Offshore wind development is also a prospect in the Netherlands where land space is severely limited. A 75-100MW project in Ijsselmeer is awaiting planning permission. Shell International Renewables, part of Royal Dutch/Shell, is also interested in wind-powered schemes and will be given extra funding if a current Shell study shows them to be viable. One scheme may use Shell's extensive experience with offshore platforms to build sea-based wind farms. According to Rob Sauven of the Wind Energy Group (WEG), a subsidiary of Taylor Woodrow, the UK-based international construction company: "The UK has the best wind resources on and offshore in Europe. Wind energy could provide the UK with as much as 15% of its electricity needs by 2020." The near shore wind resource (10km from shoreline) in the UK is capable of providing up to two-thirds of the UK’s electricity needs. The UK Government is currently reviewing offshore wind as part of its overall renewable energy policy. Greenpeace hopes the outcome of the Government’s review of renewable energy will be an ambitious offshore wind programme in line with Denmark, which supports the UK' fragile wind manufacturing industry. Contact: Marcus Rand, Greenpeace UK on 0171 865 8218 or Rob Sauven, Wind Energy Group on 0181 575 9301. ACHIEVING CO2 EMISSIONS CUTS: A PRACTICAL BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS UK could realistically reduce its dependence on fossil fuels by up to one-third without causing major economic damage, simply by implementing a number of common sense measures. Given the inexorable increase in CO2 emissions worldwide and our continuing dependency on fossil fuels, how can countries begin to articulate - and implement - new policies to achieve emissions reductions? The UK and Europe have taken a relatively progressive role in climate change negotiations. However, the UK’s negotiating position has been weakened because it has failed to indicate how it is going to achieve proposed targets. A new report* commissioned by Greenpeace shows that the UK Government’s climate target of reducing CO2 emissions by 20% by 2010 is easily achievable and brings economic and industrial benefits. Based largely on government-commissioned findings, the report shows that the UK could realistically reduce its dependence on fossil fuels by up to one-third without causing major economic damage, simply by implementing a number of common sense measures. Key findings of the report include: * Energy efficiency measures alone could save between 20-30% of present CO2 emissions. The average UK household wastes L278 per year through inefficient energy use - over £6bn nationally * Renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar and wave energy, could generate almost 50% of the UK’s electricity demand by the end of the next decade. * Emissions from industrial uses of fossil fuels can be cut by a third using energy efficient technologies such as Combined Heat and Power. * Implementation of a cost-effective energy efficiency programme would create 20,000 new jobs and produce a new industry worth L1bn per year. * "The Potential for Sustainable Energy in the UK" was compiled for Greenpeace by the International Institute for Energy Conservation (IIEC) and is available from Matthew Spencer, Greenpeace UK on 0171 865 8244. CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN: TOYS `R' US BANS SOFT PVC TOYS `I cannot defend such uses of PVC.' Anita Ringstroem, Deputy Director General of the Association for Swedish Chemical Industries. Toys `R' Us in Austria and retailers in Belgium have joined the growing number of international retailers and national authorities who are taking action to restrict the sale of soft PVC toys for children under three years old. During October, Greenpeace direct actions against Toys `R' Us in Austria and discussions with the company's top management resulted in their agreement to withdraw ten specific PVC toys from the shelves. The company's Managing Director publicly thanked Greenpeace for making them aware of the problem and agreed to meet with Greenpeace representatives to discuss the possibility of a PVC phaseout of other toys now being sold. Toys `R' Us franchises in Denmark (Top Toys), the Netherlands (Speelhorn) and Indonesia (Umi Parmasi) have also committed themselves to removing soft PVC baby toys. After meeting with Greenpeace at its US headquarters, Toys `R' Us has agreed to look into the hazards of PVC toys on a worldwide corporate basis. Austrian Consumer Affairs minister Barbara Prammer also stated that results from her federal food control lab show that: "based on precautionary consumer protection, PVC toys are not desirable." She is preparing domestic regulations to ban certain PVC toys by mid 1998 and has also agreed to work on a European-wide initiative. In October, FEDIS, the Belgian Retail Federation, informed the Belgian Government that it had decided to take precautionary action and immediately withdraw all soft PVC products designed to be chewed by young children. The retailer's action follows a request from the Belgian Government to `voluntarily discontinue marketing these products.' The Dutch and Danish Governments have already taken similar actions (see GP Business 39). In the UK, Boots is moving away from the use of phthalates in its products and does not sell teethers made from PVC. At the end of November Blokker, Bart Smit, Intertoys and Toys ‘R’ Us all stated they would stop selling soft PVC toys in Dutch shops. Technical experts from EU member states are now discussing methods of testing soft PVC to determine the rate at which additives leach out. Referring to the use of soft PVC in baby products, Anita Ringstroem, Deputy Director General of the Association for Swedish Chemical Industries, stated at a conference on October 17th: ‘I cannot defend such uses of PVC.’ Internationally, the Philippines Department of Health has called for the removal of soft PVC toys and infant care products for children under three years of age. Last September, Greenpeace released a scientific report showing that soft PVC toys for children contained up to 40% by weight of softening chemical additives known as phthalates, which cause adverse health effects ranging from liver and kidney damage to reproductive abnormalities in laboratory animals. Greenpeace is calling on retailers and manufacturers and government officials in the EU and the USA to insist that soft PVC toys are taken off the shelves to protect children from this unnecessary and avoidable hazard. A new report*, undertaken by independent laboratories in the USA, has also found that many soft PVC children's products contain high levels of the hazardous metals lead and cadmium. These products include: children's raincoats, Barbie toys and toy telephone cords. Exposure to heat and light and the ageing process lead to cadmium and lead reaching the surface of the products. It can then easily be ingested by children and may lead to health ailments, depressed intelligence, irritability, insomnia and infertility. Contact: Thomas Belazzi, Greenpeace Austria on 43 1 713 0031; Madeleine Cobbing, Greenpeace International on 0171 865 8287; Mark Strutt, Greenpeace UK on 0171 865 8226. *The US report `Lead and Cadmium in Vinyl Children's Products' was produced by The Environmental Quality Institute at the University of North Carolina, which has also done extensive work on lead for the US Environmental Protection Agency. BUYERS SQUEEZE CANADA LOGGING COMPANIES One major international company has agreed to phase out its pulp supplies from Western Forest Products, and replace it with pulp derived from "existing secondary forests". During the Greenpeace Business conference (see Greenpeace Business Conference) Greenpeace International's Executive Director Thilo Bode confirmed that protection of the few remaining areas of ancient forest continues to be a priority campaign worldwide. Why is forest protection so important to Greenpeace? Around eighty per cent of the world's original forest cover has already been converted into secondary forests or completely deforested. Greenpeace believes it is necessary to save the 20% that remains. Ancient forests contain a critical share of the world’s global biodiversity and play an important role in stabilising the world’s climate. The largest threat to ancient forests comes from the logging industry, both directly because of the damaging effect of roads and logging, and indirectly as the forest is opened up to hunting, fuel-wood gathering, agricultural clearing, energy companies (oil, gas, dams) and the mining industry. Over the last six years, campaigning has focused on old growth forest areas in Western Canada and Russia. Last summer, Greenpeace maintained blockades of logging operations in the pristine temperate rainforests of the Great Bear Rainforest, on the west coast of British Columbia (BC). Internationally, Greenpeace has been talking with purchasers and users of pulp and timber products from BC, asking them to suspend their contracts with suppliers logging in this pristine rainforest. In response, companies throughout Europe and America are re-examining their business relationships with the following BC logging companies: Interfor, Western Forest Products (Doman), Timber West, Canfor and MacMillan Bloedel. The UK is Europe's largest importer of rainforest timber from Canada, buying about 240,000 cubic metres of timber annually. British paper mills and industrial pulp users import around 160,000 tonnes of rainforest wood pulp from Canada every year. One major international company has agreed to phase out its pulp supplies from Western Forest Products, one of the largest operators in the area, and replace it with pulp derived from "existing secondary forests". B & Q - the UK's largest DIY retailer - has also advised suppliers that it will `discontinue' its use of BC rainforest timber and replace it with pine sourced from a well-managed forest certified under Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) principles. Another British company, Larch-Lap, which manufactures garden furniture products for a number of DIY retailers, will also phase out BC rainforest timber. Negotiations are continuing with BBC Publications, Magnet, Homebase, Do It All and other UK companies. In Germany, over 90,000 protest cards and 500 individual letters were sent to Stora Publications Papers, a major purchaser of pulp from BC . In the USA, Greenpeace is working in coalition with other environmental groups, to continue the positive dialogue with several major buyers of pulp, paper and lumber. Several companies are reviewing their entire supply and will phase out all ancient forest products. Contact: Phil Aikman, Greenpeace UK on 0171 241 0198; Christoph Thies, Greenpeace International on 31 20 523 6222; Tamara Stark, Greenpeace Canada on 1 604 253 7701 EXXON THREATENS KYOTO TALKS He asked "What should we do?" about climate change and his answer was to call on governments to work with Exxon to resist proposals for action. Exxon's Chairman Lee Raymond Exxon - one of the world's major oil companies - continues to take one of the most intransigent positions on global warming, in the face of mounting scientific evidence linking climate change with CO2 emissions. This is in marked contrast to recent statements and actions by Shell, BP and OMV, the Austrian State oil company (see Greenpeace Business Conference). On October 13th Exxon's Chairman, Lee Raymond, stated at the World Petroleum Congress in China that, "The case for so-called global warming is far from air tight." Mr Raymond went on to claim that the connection between burning coal and oil and the already observed heating of the Earth was unproven and that economies would slump where fossil fuel consumption was limited. He also encouraged Asian countries to band together to fight limits on the emissions of greenhouse gases and to increase their use of fossil fuels. (Exxon accounts for 9% of worldwide petroleum sales and has earmarked East Asia, China and the former Soviet Union as regions for future oil exploration and sales expansion.) He asked "What should we do?" about climate change and his answer was to call on governments to work with Exxon to resist proposals for action. Of all the world's oil companies, Exxon and its Esso subsidiaries have been leading the efforts to denigrate the evidence linking CO2 emissions to the problems of climate change. They are major sponsors of the Global Climate Coalition (GCC), one of the most powerful anti-climate lobbying organisations. Dr Brian Flannery, former Chairman of the GCC was directly employed by Exxon. The GCC has been an active participant at the IPCC meetings over the years and was involved in the recent advertising campaign in the USA which predicted that any form of CO2 emission targets would lead to economic and financial collapse. The advertisements included the following: * 95 US Senators and Millions of Americans Can't be Wrong * The Global Climate Treaty Doesn't Make Sense for America - or the World * This December, the United States is likely to sign onto a United Nations global climate agreement that will hurt American families and workers. It's called an environmental agreement. But it's not. It's really one of the most potentially damaging economic and trade agreements the US will ever be asked to sign. * The agreement will force Americans to severely restrict their energy use while letting countries like China, India, and Mexico off the hook. A US Department of Energy study says that because it will be cheaper to make things like paper, steel, cement and chemicals overseas, that's where American jobs will go. And the price of nearly everything - food, clothing, gasoline, and other everyday necessities - will go up. In response to the Exxon speech in China, Greenpeace International's Executive Director Thilo Bode wrote to Mr Raymond suggesting that he had a duty to inform his shareholders that the United Nations' scientific reviews of global climate patterns have concluded that emissions of greenhouse gases were already having an impact on climate and weather, and have predicted that progressive global warming caused by activities such as burning coal and oil was inevitable. Mr Bode offered to meet with Mr Raymond and his colleagues to discuss how Exxon might reposition itself to serve the renewable energy needs of the future. So far, no response has been received. OTHERS HEDGE THEIR BETS In the run-up to the Kyoto conference next month, more progressive oil giants now see that CO2 emission controls may produce a range of new and positive business benefits for their companies. British Petroleum (BP)'s CEO John Browne has spoken of the actions being taken by BP (see Greenpeace Business Conference) and the need to invoke the precautionary principle. Last year, BP withdrew from the GCC in protest at the negative stance it was taking on climate change. The Austrian oil company OMV has become the first to publicly support the European Commission's stance on emission controls a 15% reduction in CO2 levels by 2005 based on 1990 levels. In September, Phil Watts from Shell stated: "We should be clear that sustainable energy does not depend on maintaining these (fossil fuel) reserves indefinitely, but on finding new ways to meet our energy needs. I have no doubt of the huge potential for using energy more efficiently and for developing and commercialising alternative sources which could position Shell to accept controls stemming from a carbon budget." At a meeting with Greenpeace in November Shell stated it was pulling out of high carbon fuels like coal and supporting a 5% cut in CO2 by 2010. Greenpeace believes that Exxon has a responsibility to the public at least to acknowledge the dangers of climate change. It is totally irresponsible for Exxon to call for an increase in fossil fuel use when the known consequences of climate change, including droughts, severe storms, glacial retreat and sea level rise, would have devastating effects on nature and civilisation. For details of the Greenpeace Esso Watch contact: Robbie Kelman, Greenpeace UK on 0171 865 8243. GREENPEACE BUSINESS CONFERENCE: NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO PROMOTE SOLUTIONS AGENDA As Peter Melchett stated in conclusion: a solutions agenda and discussions with companies are now an integral element of all Greenpeace campaigning. Over 210 international business executives and Greenpeace campaigners took advantage of the second annual Greenpeace Business conference in London on October 7th to exchange views and explore new ways of working together on solutions to environmental problems. John Elkington opened the conference by underlining the `triple bottom line' - companies must focus on profits, environmental quality and social justice when making business decisions. Greenpeace International's Executive Director Thilo Bode highlighted the two greatest ecological threats - climate change and ancient forest destruction - and explored the ramifications of Greenpeace's solutions agenda and growing relations with industry. Although conflict still remains an element of Greenpeace’s campaigns, we can no longer just say ‘no’, but must also put forward a solution alternative that is feasible, he confirmed. John Browne, CEO of BP, Britain’s second largest company, began his talk by stating: "I am probably the first BP Executive to occupy a Greenpeace platform". On a more serious note, Browne publicly accepted the scientific findings that there is a discernible human influence on the climate and a link between the concentration of CO2 and the increase in temperatures. `It would be unwise and potentially dangerous to ignore the mounting concern. But we do need to take precautionary action now,' he concluded. Browne went on to discuss BP's internal activities to reduce CO2 emissions and how it is planning to expand its renewable and solar powered energy business (see Race to Expand Solar Heats Up). Chris Rose from Greenpeace put the case for a phaseout of fossil fuels. According to Greenpeace's scientific calculations, the world cannot safely burn all the fossil fuels that exist, he said. To meet the safe limit of a 1 Degree C increase in global average temperature, and a rate of 0.1 Degree C per decade, you can only burn about 25% of what is held in known reserves. What is needed is a global, negotiated agreement to limit and control the production and use of fossil fuels. This is a job for governments - but they are also dependent on tax revenues from oil companies. So they will continue to offer new areas for oil licensing and oil companies will continue to buy. To solve the problems of climate change, we must start rational debates about how much gas, coal or oil can be burned, at what price, in what order and where. It will be a difficult and complex negotiation - and will not be completed overnight. If forests are protected, there may be about 30 years before the carbon budget is used up. During the next three decades we will have to convert to renewable energy. Is it possible? The US fossil fuel industry has effectively lobbied American senators and congressmen against making any drastic moves to reduce CO2 emissions at the Kyoto Climate Convention next month in Kyoto. But there is some progressive thinking in the oil industry. OMV, an Austrian oil company, has publicly agreed to back the European Union position - which means only half the world’s fossil fuel reserves can ever be burnt. Both BP and Shell are also beginning to invest in renewables (see Race to Expand Solar Heats Up). If oil companies expand to become energy companies there is no intrinsic division. Global government action is needed and companies have the responsibility to encourage that process, not to impede it. Oil companies have the resources, if they want to, to finance the shift to renewable energy. Will it happen? Off the record, Shell executives admit that the days of the oil economy are coming to an end. And a senior official from BMW has privately acknowledged that they want to get out of petrol driven vehicles and into technologies such as fuel cells. Robert Kelly of Enron also spoke of the emerging opportunities for solar power producers, and the cost reductions taking place which make solar power and other renewables more competitive against existing energy supplies. GMOs AND PVC The afternoon sessions, chaired by Greenpeace UK Executive Director Peter Melchett, focused on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and PVC . Robin Grove-White elaborated on the growing anxieties expressed by the public over GMOs. Guy Walker presented the Unilever approach, saying in the long term, it will continue to monitor public opinion on the GMO issue. However it also plans to introduce genetically modified soya as an ingredient in its Batchelor’s Beanfeast product before the end of the year. Paul Monaghan concluded the day with a summary of the success of the PVC-free Greenpeace credit card - despite the fact that the Co-op has been prevented from advertising the product since its launch last May. A number of new contacts were made between company executives and campaigners - which is one of the most important aspects of this annual event. As Peter Melchett stated in conclusion: a solutions agenda and discussions with companies are now an integral element of all Greenpeace campaigning. Conference Documentation (L90 plus VAT) is available from: John Sauven, Greenpeace UK on 0171 865 8180 or Steve Warshal, Greenpeace Business on 0171 970 4713 NEWS BRIEFS LEGAL CHALLENGE TO OIL LICENSING MOVES TO EC Greenpeace will be taking its legal case to stop oil licensing in the Atlantic Frontier region to the European Commission. Last October, the UK courts refused to allow a full judicial investigation of the granting of oil exploration licences by the UK Government to over 30 oil companies. The decision was made on a timing technicality. However, Greenpeace was advised that an appeal would lead to such delays that the Court would be extremely unlikely to quash the licences granted by the UK Government because of the level of financial investment made by the oil companies. Greenpeace will be lodging an official complaint with the European Commission alleging that the 17th licensing round breached the European Habitats Directive. The EC has the power to investigate breaches of law and to commence proceedings against the UK Government in the European Court of Justice. The October judgement has also opened up the possibility of other legal challenges to future oil licensing rounds in the Atlantic Frontier. ARGENTINIAN LOGGING BY US COMPANY HALTED After protests by Greenpeace and indigenous communities, the USA-based Seaboard Corporation has halted its plan to log threatened jungle in northwestern Argentina. After buying a 68% stake in a sugar cane enterprise, the US agro-industrial firm began logging 400-500 year old trees in the Salta province. The forest is home to several endangered species including the jaguar and the toucan. After meeting with environmental authorities and the Kolla indigenous community, Seaboard agreed to freeze its logging operations and prepare a new forestry management plan. Greenpeace Argentina is also campaigning against the Seattle, USA-based Trillium logging company. Trillium has submitted a plan to log old growth beech forests located on the southern tip of Argentina. MEDITERRANEAN HOLIDAYS UNDER THREAT Mediterranean resorts, visited by millions of holiday-makers, could be badly hit by climate change, warns a new Greenpeace report. Shrinking beaches, droughts and food shortages could all become the norm in the region, if nothing is done to curb greenhouse gases. Without any reductions of CO2 emissions, temperatures are projected to rise by up to 4°C by 2100 over many inland areas and by over half of this over the Mediterranean Sea. Over the same period, annual rainfall is projected to decline by 10 to 40% over much of Africa and south-eastern Spain, with smaller - but potentially significant - changes elsewhere. Tourism is a major industry in the Mediterranean. In 1984 there were 100 million tourists in coastal areas. In the absence of climate change this is projected to grow to 170-340 million by 2025 (UNEP,1987). Now this projected increase is under threat as the possible impacts of climate change are more fully realised. EUROPEAN IMPORT BAN ON GENETICALLY ENGINEERED MAIZE Austria and Luxembourg will be able to continue their bans on the importation of genetically engineered maize produced by the multinational agrochemical company Novartis. Last month, member states refused to support an attempt by the European Commission to prohibit national import bans on maize. Members agreed to delay a final vote on the ban until January 1998. Austria has announced that if necessary, it will fight for its right to ban the import of Novartis genetically engineered maize at the European Court of Justice. On November 11th Greenpeace prevented the unloading of a shipment of GE soya in Rotterdam as part of a new Genetic Hazard Patrol of Europe. These patrols will alert the public to the arrival of GE soya and maize into their countries and into their food supply. WHO VISITS GREENPEACE INTERNET SITE? Does anyone look up and read internet sites? Between May and August, the Greenpeace UK site, which provides a range of details on the climate campaign, had 1.6m hits. Of those, (96,370) were from the oil industry, including: Stuart W. Law Co (oil consultancy) 23.8k, Texaco -14k; Shell UK - 13k; PGS - 9k; DuPont (Conoco) - 7k; BP - 6k; Marathon Oil - 6k; Phillips Petroleum - 5k. Other major visitors included: Statoil Norway, Arco, Shell Netherlands, Amoco and Chevron. Contact: http: www.greenpeace.org.uk GREENPEACE OFFERS TO PAY FINE WITH SOLAR PANELS On November 14th Greenpeace installed solar panels on the roof of the administration building of Shell in Luxembourg. Following a Greenpeace protest in June 1995 against the planned sea-dumping of the disused oil platform ‘Brent Spar’, a civil court fined the organisation $4,000. Greenpeace gave Shell the solar panels as payment for the fine. The 1kW installation, which covers 25% of the annual electricity consumption of an average household, was carried out as part of a campaign to get Shell to switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. Greenpeace Luxembourg has also offered to provide a nuclear company with solar panels for its headquarters in lieu of a fine which is due to the company. RAINBOW WARRIOR TOURS AUSTRALIAN OIL FRONTIER On November 11th the Rainbow Warrior left Darwin for the North West Shelf and the Timor Sea, both unique and largely pristine marine environments. They are now under threat from oil exploration and production. The Rainbow Warrior tour will highlight the connection between climate change and oil exploration; investigate the current impacts of off-shore oil exploration and document the impact which climate change is already having on the area particularly bleaching of coral reefs. CREDITS Greenpeace Business is published bi-monthly by Greenpeace Ltd. Editor Steve Warshal gp-info@uk.greenpeace.org Subscription Greenpeace Business is available on subscription for L90 a year. Please make cheques payable to `Greenpeace Ltd' and send to the London address listed below. Reproduction Material published in Greenpeace Business may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without prior permission. However, full acknowledgement must be made to the original source and a copy sent to the editor. Information queries If you have any questions or comments on articles in Greenpeace Business please write to the editor or contact: John Sauven Greenpeace Canonbury Villas London N1 2PN Tel: 0171-865 8100 Fax: 0171-865 8201