 
International Launch of the G8 + 5 Legislators, Business Leaders, and Civil Society Climate Change Dialogue Looking Beyond 2012 In partnership with the COM+ Alliance 
LONDON, House of Commons, February 24, 2006—Today, GLOBE – a network of legislators from around the world – joined COM+: The Alliance of Communicators for Sustainable Development, to jointly launch an ambitious three-year dialogue on Climate Change, Looking Beyond 2012, focused on agreeing to alternatives beyond the Kyoto Protocol. This series of high level dialogues will draw together legislators from the G8 countries, as well as India, China, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, and Australia, with international business leaders, civil society, and opinion leaders to generate an understanding of the beyond Kyoto scenarios and to discuss a 2012 climate change agreement. The dialogue series will shadow the formal G8 climate change process up to the Tokyo Summit in 2008. In his message of support relayed during the press conference, Tony Blair, UK Prime Minister, said, “I am delighted that GLOBE, in partnership with the COM+ Alliance, has created a forum for legislators from the G8 and major emerging economies to discuss these important issues in an open and frank manner. Importantly, I note that the GLOBE Dialogue will shadow the G8 discussions and will seek to make regular contributions. Legislators have a crucial role in raising awareness, encouraging debate in their constituencies and, of course, holding their leaders to account.” “I have no doubt, whatsoever,” Blair continues, “that climate change is the greatest environmental challenge we face. The evidence of such change is now overwhelming. The predictions of the scale of the changes ahead and their impact are frightening. Without action to curb human’s greenhouse gas emissions experts predict that global average temperatures could rise by as much as 5.8°C and sea levels by 88 cm by the end of this century. Such change will dramatically alter our environment, our economies and our way of life.” During the press conference the organizers announced that the first meeting will take place in St. Petersburg, Russia, before the July Summit of the G8. "As a legislator ,” stressed Joan Ruddock, Member of the UK’s Parliament International Development Select Committee, and Co-Chair of today’s meeting in London, “We have a vital role to play in this process. Together with my parliamentary counterparts from the G8 and developing countries we have a key opportunity through this Dialogue to contribute to finding solutions and importantly to holding our government’s to account for the commitments they have made. Climate change is both a national and a global problem and an issue that transcends political affiliations. It is an issue that affects us all, and this Dialogue will ensure our contribution is heard." “For the World Bank,” said Ian Johnson, World Bank Vice President for Sustainable Development, “this multi-stakeholder dialogue represents a unique opportunity to engage with constituencies that are going to be instrumental in finding the solutions that will give impetus to a less carbon intensive development path in both rich and developing countries. This is a global concern and, as therefore, lawmakers, the business community, civil society, and opinion builders ought to be involved. GLOBE and COM+ are contributing to the generation of a new space of interaction which will complement the intergovernmental process." The dialogue will comprise at least two annual international fora, as well as specific country forums in China, India, and the United States . An International Advisory Board has been established that will meet twice yearly. The Board will comprise representation from the European Parliament, the Indian Lok Sabha, the Canadian Parliament, the Japanese Diet, the Chinese National People’s Congress, British Petroleum, The World Bank, COM+, and other private sector representatives. Examples of Parliamentarians on the Board include Lord Hunt of Chesterton; Anders Wijkman MEP, European Parliament; Dr Reinhard Loske MdB, Germany; Representative Takeshi Maeda, Japan; Bryon Wilfert MP, Canada; Deputy Mikhail Zalikhanov, Russia; and Suresh Prabhu MP, India. According to Sigmar Gabriel, Environment Minister for Germany, “Through the dialogue of legislators and the business community from the G8 plus five, a base for a consensus on climate negotiations could be achieved. The interaction of the dialogue series with the Gleneagles process opens a great opportunity.” The Dialogue Series aims to provide a Forum outside of formal international structures for legislators, senior business leaders, civil society, and opinion leaders to discuss post 2012 scenarios (when the Kyoto Protocol expires) without the restraint of a formal government negotiating position. It also expects to generate a greater understanding between participating legislators, business leaders, and key civil society organizations about different country priorities and how any future political accommodation can be reached. Ends. For more information, including the full statement from Tony Blair, please contact: What is GLOBE? GLOBE (Global Legislators Organization for a Balanced Environment) is a network of individual legislators around the world that seeks to educate parliamentarians on environmental issues and promote policies supporting sustainable development. What is COM+? The COM+ Alliance (www.complusalliance.org) is a partnership of international organizations and communications professionals from diverse sectors committed to using communications to advance a vision of sustainable development that integrates its three pillars: economic, social, and environmental. By offering a platform to share expertise, develop best practice, and create synergies, COM+ hopes to actively support creative and inspiring communications across the world to bring sustainable development closer to the public. # # # |
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