In announcing his state’s ban on single-use plastic bags today Mark McGowan told reporters plastic was "the curse of the earth" and was responsible for killing wildlife and degrading the environment.

“Five out of seven states have now listened to the concerns of their residents and the scientists who have repeatedly warned how bad our plastic pollution crisis is,” Greenpeace Senior Campaigner Nathaniel Pelle said.

“The only two states continuing to ignore the desire of their constituents by holding back a ban are Victoria and NSW. But while Victoria has left the door open, in NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has flatly refused to consider a ban instead leaving the problem for industry to manage -  that’s a certain recipe for polluted beaches and dead marine life.  

“Other states have now proved we can reduce plastic waste - these two governments who aren't on board need to wake up and take action.”

WA’s ban will be effective from July 1, 2018 making NSW and Victoria the only Australian states that are yet to act on banning single use plastic bags.

"This is a huge win for the people of WA less than a year after a previous state government publicly said they would never ban plastic bags," Greenpeace activist Bhaval Chandaria said.

Queensland’s moved to ban single-use plastic bags and implement a container deposit scheme last week. South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the ACT all have bans on single-use plastic bags in place. NSW and Victoria are yet to implement any policy on bags despite polls showing overwhelming support for a ban [1].

“There is no good reason for the Premiers and Environment ministers of these two lagging states to still be dragging their heels,” Pelle said.

“This paralysis means millions of plastic bags will make their ways into the environment and waterways of NSW and Victoria for absolutely no reason.”

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

[1] http://bit.ly/2eCLL21

For interviews contact:

Simon Black

Greenpeace Senior Media Campaigner

0418 219 086 / simon.black@greenpeace.org

The letter also calls for members to rule out any involvement with Adani’s Carmichael mine in Queensland, with the NAIF currently considering a proposal to loan $1 billion of taxpayers’ money to the billionaire mining company for the construction of a rail line.

“Given the large amount of public money at stake and the high degree of community interest in this issue, it is particularly important that the public not be kept in the dark,” the letter reads.

“We ask you to be transparent and open in your decision-making.

“In reaching your decision, please give proper weight to the overwhelming popular conviction that public money should not be used to finance Adani’s high-risk Carmichael project.”

The letter comes one day before the fund is due to face a senate grilling over possible conflicts of interest on its board after revelations that one of the board’s directors also runs companies associated with mining labour and equipment hire and was personally known by the the former resources minister.

“The controversy surrounding the NAIF and its consideration of this project has united Australians from every background,” Greenpeace Climate and Energy campaigner Nikola Casule said.

“This letter is another reminder that both experts in corporate governance and transparency as well as ordinary Australians are opposed to any taxpayers’ money being used to prop up a dying industry. New coal mines, like the Carmichael mine, aren’t viable without the support they get from the government in the form of subsidies and royalty holidays.

“With this letter more prominent voices join those of former treasurer Wayne Swan and former Liberal Party leader John Hewson in warning against any public money going into this mine.”

The letter has been signed by:

Jon AltmanProfessor of Anthropology, Deakin University

Frank BongiornoProfessor of History, Australian National University

Ian DunlopFormer Chair, Australian Coal Association and CEO AICD

Robyn EckersleyProfessor of Political Science, University of Melbourne

Alex GardnerProfessor of Natural Resources and Environmental Law, The University of

Western Australia

Sarah JosephProfessor of Law, Monash University

John KeaneProfessor of Politics, University of Sydney

Stephen Keim SCSenior Counsel

Greg McIntyre SCSenior Counsel

John QuigginProfessor of Economics, University of Queensland

Barry RafeDirector Trainer

Christopher WrightProfessor of Organisational Studies, University of Sydney

James WrightCEO, Future Business Council

For interviews contact:

Simon Black

Greenpeace Senior Media Campaigner

0418 219 086 / simon.black@greenpeace.org

The bank, which is currently facing litigation by shareholders for failing to disclose climate risk, today confirmed they had not been approached to finance the controversial development in Queensland and "would not be" approached in the future.

"Today’s announcement by CommBank means it is even more unlikely that Adani’s project will gain the finance necessary to build the controversial Carmichael mine, but CommBank is still right at the bottom of the league table in terms of bank climate policies,” Greenpeace campaigner Jonathan Moylan said.

“Fourteen banks globally, including HSBC and Deutsche Bank, have ruled out funding new coal projects, and CommBank will continue to face public pressure until it does the same.”

"CommBank has financed more fossil fuel pollution than any other Australian bank since it committed to support the Paris Agreement only eighteen months ago.”

“If CommBank do not rule out funding fossil fuels projects in their new climate policy, that Paris Agreement commitment will look even more hollow.”

Analysis by University College London’s Institute for Sustainable Resources shows that to limit average global warming to two degrees, a third of the world’s oil reserves, half of its gas reserves and 80 per cent of coal reserves must remain in the ground. 

“Australians do not want their money invested in projects that damage the Great Barrier Reef, and pose a risk to Pacific Islanders and future generations,” continued Mr Moylan.

"Greenpeace will keep up the pressure to ensure that CommBank take steps to rule out new investments in the dying coal industry and reflect the concern of their customers, shareholders, and the wider Australian community."

For more information, contact:

Simon Black 
Senior Media Campaigner

Greenpeace Australia Pacific

Tel: 0418 219 086
Email: sblack@greenpeace.org

In announcing his state’s ban on single-use plastic bags today Mark McGowan told reporters plastic was "the curse of the earth" and was responsible for killing wildlife and degrading the environment.

“Five out of seven states have now listened to the concerns of their residents and the scientists who have repeatedly warned how bad our plastic pollution crisis is,” Greenpeace Senior Campaigner Nathaniel Pelle said.

“The only two states continuing to ignore the desire of their constituents by holding back a ban are Victoria and NSW. But while Victoria has left the door open, in NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has flatly refused to consider a ban instead leaving the problem for industry to manage -  that’s a certain recipe for polluted beaches and dead marine life.  

“Other states have now proved we can reduce plastic waste - these two governments who aren't on board need to wake up and take action.”

WA’s ban will be effective from July 1, 2018 making NSW and Victoria the only Australian states that are yet to act on banning single use plastic bags.

"This is a huge win for the people of WA less than a year after a previous state government publicly said they would never ban plastic bags," Greenpeace activist Bhaval Chandaria said.

Queensland’s moved to ban single-use plastic bags and implement a container deposit scheme last week. South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the ACT all have bans on single-use plastic bags in place. NSW and Victoria are yet to implement any policy on bags despite polls showing overwhelming support for a ban [1].

“There is no good reason for the Premiers and Environment ministers of these two lagging states to still be dragging their heels,” Pelle said.

“This paralysis means millions of plastic bags will make their ways into the environment and waterways of NSW and Victoria for absolutely no reason.”

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

[1] http://bit.ly/2eCLL21

For interviews contact:

Simon Black

Greenpeace Senior Media Campaigner

0418 219 086 / simon.black@greenpeace.org

NAIF today announced that it will provide a $18.6 million concessional loan to the company building the Onslow Marine Support Base to support shipping along the West Australian coast linked to oil and gas exports.

“Our worst fears about the NAIF have been confirmed with this announcement: it’s clear now that the NAIF is simply a slush fund set up to funnel taxpayers’ money into fossil fuel projects,” Greenpeace Australia Pacific Climate and Energy Campaigner, Nikola Casule, said.

“While the majority of Australians want our public money spent on renewable energy projects, schools, and hospitals the NAIF are instead intent on investing in the past, not the future.

“And if Adani Group get their way we are in grave danger of seeing this board waste $1 billion more of taxpayers’ money on a rail line for a toxic coal mine.”

Polling released on the weekend showed a majority of Australians now oppose Adani’s Carmichael coal mine with two thirds of people wanting the Queensland government to use its power to veto the loan [1].

Last Saturday saw an unprecedented show of opposition to Adani’s Carmichael mine, with tens of thousands of Australians attending Stop Adani protests at dozens of sites around the country.

“There is a renewable energy boom happening in North Queensland right now but the government is ignoring it even as the Great Barrier Reef bleaches and Australia’s emissions rise,” Casule said.

“This decision is the result of a NAIF board that is hopelessly compromised by its links to the mining industry. The government must step in to reject any loan to Adani, and start over with a reformed, independent NAIF that puts the interests of Australians first. ”

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

[1] http://bit.ly/2kC5F2L

For interviews contact:

Simon Black

Greenpeace Australia Pacific Senior Media Campaigner

0418 219 086 / simon.black@greenpeace.org

Statoil’s plans would place thousands of kilometres of pristine coastline, fishing towns, and tourist icons in grave danger, with companies admitting a major oil spill would reach coastal towns such as Kangaroo Island within days.

“The news Chevron has given up on drilling in the Bight means the coastal communities of Southern Australia have dodged another bullet, but the threat of Statoil still looms,” Greenpeace Australia Pacific Senior Campaigner Nathaniel Pelle said.

“Oil spill modelling conducted last year for Statoil's well locations show that the entire southern coastline of Australia would be at risk in the event of an oil spill in the Great Australian Bight.

“Coastal towns from Esperance in WA, to Port Lincoln and Kangaroo Island and even Victoria’s Great Ocean road are still in danger from Statoil’s proposed deepwater wells.”

Statoil announced their intentions to drill in the GAB after taking over two of BP’s exploration permits in June this year. Their announcement came mere months after the Norwegian national regulator voiced concerns over a surge in serious safety incidents at their wells.

“Statoil are planning to expand their operations into the pristine South Australian coastline right at a time when their record of incidents and spills at wells have increased catastrophically,” Pelle said.

“That worsening safety record includes a doubling of the volume of oil spills from their Norwegian wells last year and fourteen major safety incidents in the past eighteen months.

“And this is despite Norway’s stricter regulations around oil drilling compared with Australia.  

“Chevron’s announcement shows the only sane thing to do is for the federal government to terminate all oil leases in this area, reform our national oil regulations to world’s best practice, and move quickly to protect one of the world’s most biodiverse regions and the communities that surround it.”

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

[1] https://unearthed.greenpeace.org/2017/05/11/statoil-arctic-barents-safety-incidents/

For interviews contact:

Simon Black

Greenpeace Senior Media Campaigner

0418 219 086 / simon.black@greenpeace.org

October 13, 2017 - Two Pacific Island Representatives are calling on the public to join them as they head to a key UN climate meeting in Germany where they will demand that countries cut their sweet-talk and honour their Paris Agreement commitments.

The Pacific Islands contribute virtually nothing to climate change but in a cruel twist of fate they will be more impacted than almost anywhere else on earth.

Despite being at the coalface of global warming the big international climate meetings are dominated by the likes of China, the EU and the US, who too often decide the fate of the Pacific with little to no input from Pacific leaders.

Even worse, nations like Australia portray themselves as climate progressives but at the same time violate the spirit of the Paris agreement by continuing to export and extract fossil fuels. Through coal Australia exports almost double the emissions it produces at home.

“It’s a disgrace! The big polluters need to stop sugar-coating their climate destruction, step up and take responsibility for their actions,” Pacific Island Represent spokesman Samu Kuridrani said.

“Our shorelines have eroded, the extinction of fish and the repetitive occurrence of extreme weather events is becoming the new norm. At the same time Australia, our so-called friend, exports more coal than ever. We have been hammered by the impacts of climate change and if nothing is done it could be even worse for the next generation.”

Kuridrani is one of the faces of Pacific Island Represent (P.I Rep), a new group set up to inform, empower and support Pacific Islanders to challenge the hypocrisy of nations that say one thing and do another on climate change.

As part of P.I Rep’s mission to call out the climate sweet-talk and demand that countries abide by their commitments Kuridrani and fellow P.I Representative Alisi Nacewa are travelling to Bonn, Germany where Fiji is hosting the 23rd Conference of Parties meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP23).

The meeting presents a unique opportunity for Pacific voices to be heard as it will be the first hosted by a Pacific island state. COP23 will be critical to the future of the Pacific with world leaders set to decide how to implement the Paris agreement, which aims to cap global warming at 1.5°C.

“Limiting warming to 1.5°C means a chance to continue to live on our Pacific Island homes,” Nacewa said.

“Rising seas are taking away scarce land, coastal erosion is digging away at the foundations of our homes and salt-water intrusion is making it harder to plant and grow food. Stopping global warming at 1.5°C means entire coastal villages will not have to relocate to escape rising seas.“

In order to realise their goal P.I Rep is crowdfunding to get Kuridrani and Nacewa all the way from Fiji to Bonn.

“Going to COP would be a great opportunity to question world leaders on what they’re doing to reduce carbon emissions. Nations signed up to the Paris Agreements continue to extract, export and burn coal, oil and gas. They think that we don’t see the double game they’re playing,” Kuridrani said.

“I want to be the voice of my people. The decisions they’ll make at COP affect the Pacific and we need our voices to be heard. In the Pacific we making a stand by keeping fossil fuels in the ground and turning to renewable energy. We need answers from the global community on what they are actually doing to fix climate change and we need answers now!”

Just a day after launching the group has already raised more than $12,000.

COP23, chaired by Fiji, will be held in Bonn, Germany from November 6-17.

To support P.I Represent’s! COP campaign click here

For interviews contact:

 Greenpeace Media Campaigner Martin Zavan

 0424 295 422

 martin.zavan@greenpeace.org

The bank, which is currently facing litigation by shareholders for failing to disclose climate risk, today confirmed they had not been approached to finance the controversial development in Queensland and "would not be" approached in the future.

"Today’s announcement by CommBank means it is even more unlikely that Adani’s project will gain the finance necessary to build the controversial Carmichael mine, but CommBank is still right at the bottom of the league table in terms of bank climate policies,” Greenpeace campaigner Jonathan Moylan said.

“Fourteen banks globally, including HSBC and Deutsche Bank, have ruled out funding new coal projects, and CommBank will continue to face public pressure until it does the same.”

"CommBank has financed more fossil fuel pollution than any other Australian bank since it committed to support the Paris Agreement only eighteen months ago.”

“If CommBank do not rule out funding fossil fuels projects in their new climate policy, that Paris Agreement commitment will look even more hollow.”

Analysis by University College London’s Institute for Sustainable Resources shows that to limit average global warming to two degrees, a third of the world’s oil reserves, half of its gas reserves and 80 per cent of coal reserves must remain in the ground. 

“Australians do not want their money invested in projects that damage the Great Barrier Reef, and pose a risk to Pacific Islanders and future generations,” continued Mr Moylan.

"Greenpeace will keep up the pressure to ensure that CommBank take steps to rule out new investments in the dying coal industry and reflect the concern of their customers, shareholders, and the wider Australian community."

For more information, contact:

Simon Black 
Senior Media Campaigner

Greenpeace Australia Pacific

Tel: 0418 219 086
Email: sblack@greenpeace.org

In announcing his state’s ban on single-use plastic bags today Mark McGowan told reporters plastic was "the curse of the earth" and was responsible for killing wildlife and degrading the environment.

“Five out of seven states have now listened to the concerns of their residents and the scientists who have repeatedly warned how bad our plastic pollution crisis is,” Greenpeace Senior Campaigner Nathaniel Pelle said.

“The only two states continuing to ignore the desire of their constituents by holding back a ban are Victoria and NSW. But while Victoria has left the door open, in NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has flatly refused to consider a ban instead leaving the problem for industry to manage -  that’s a certain recipe for polluted beaches and dead marine life.  

“Other states have now proved we can reduce plastic waste - these two governments who aren't on board need to wake up and take action.”

WA’s ban will be effective from July 1, 2018 making NSW and Victoria the only Australian states that are yet to act on banning single use plastic bags.

"This is a huge win for the people of WA less than a year after a previous state government publicly said they would never ban plastic bags," Greenpeace activist Bhaval Chandaria said.

Queensland’s moved to ban single-use plastic bags and implement a container deposit scheme last week. South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the ACT all have bans on single-use plastic bags in place. NSW and Victoria are yet to implement any policy on bags despite polls showing overwhelming support for a ban [1].

“There is no good reason for the Premiers and Environment ministers of these two lagging states to still be dragging their heels,” Pelle said.

“This paralysis means millions of plastic bags will make their ways into the environment and waterways of NSW and Victoria for absolutely no reason.”

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

[1] http://bit.ly/2eCLL21

For interviews contact:

Simon Black

Greenpeace Senior Media Campaigner

0418 219 086 / simon.black@greenpeace.org

The letter also calls for members to rule out any involvement with Adani’s Carmichael mine in Queensland, with the NAIF currently considering a proposal to loan $1 billion of taxpayers’ money to the billionaire mining company for the construction of a rail line.

“Given the large amount of public money at stake and the high degree of community interest in this issue, it is particularly important that the public not be kept in the dark,” the letter reads.

“We ask you to be transparent and open in your decision-making.

“In reaching your decision, please give proper weight to the overwhelming popular conviction that public money should not be used to finance Adani’s high-risk Carmichael project.”

The letter comes one day before the fund is due to face a senate grilling over possible conflicts of interest on its board after revelations that one of the board’s directors also runs companies associated with mining labour and equipment hire and was personally known by the the former resources minister.

“The controversy surrounding the NAIF and its consideration of this project has united Australians from every background,” Greenpeace Climate and Energy campaigner Nikola Casule said.

“This letter is another reminder that both experts in corporate governance and transparency as well as ordinary Australians are opposed to any taxpayers’ money being used to prop up a dying industry. New coal mines, like the Carmichael mine, aren’t viable without the support they get from the government in the form of subsidies and royalty holidays.

“With this letter more prominent voices join those of former treasurer Wayne Swan and former Liberal Party leader John Hewson in warning against any public money going into this mine.”

The letter has been signed by:

Jon AltmanProfessor of Anthropology, Deakin University

Frank BongiornoProfessor of History, Australian National University

Ian DunlopFormer Chair, Australian Coal Association and CEO AICD

Robyn EckersleyProfessor of Political Science, University of Melbourne

Alex GardnerProfessor of Natural Resources and Environmental Law, The University of

Western Australia

Sarah JosephProfessor of Law, Monash University

John KeaneProfessor of Politics, University of Sydney

Stephen Keim SCSenior Counsel

Greg McIntyre SCSenior Counsel

John QuigginProfessor of Economics, University of Queensland

Barry RafeDirector Trainer

Christopher WrightProfessor of Organisational Studies, University of Sydney

James WrightCEO, Future Business Council

For interviews contact:

Simon Black

Greenpeace Senior Media Campaigner

0418 219 086 / simon.black@greenpeace.org

A group of people, including a number from coal-affected communities have today delivered a
load of coal to the front of the Commonwealth Bank’s Harbour Street office in Sydney in order to highlight
the consequences of their fossil fuel lending policies.

The coal has been placed in front of the main entrance to the building alongside posters highlighting the impacts of the Commonwealth Bank’s climate policy on community health, the environment, and the global climate.

“The Commonwealth Bank’s climate policy promises to support a transition to net zero emissions by 2050 but their actions make a mockery of that promise,” Greenpeace campaigner Jonathan Moylan said.

“By failing to exclude highly polluting fossil fuel projects like coal mines CommBank are funding projects that destroy our environment, take a catastrophic toll on the health of communities, and accelerate climate change.”

Since March more than 100,000 people have signed a petition calling for CommBank to rule out investment in new coal projects. But in October CommBank released a one-page “Climate Policy Position Statement” which contains no restrictions around lending to coal projects - the only of the “big four” to fail to do this[1].

Newcastle resident and grandfather John Hayes lives within 200 metres of the world’s largest coal port in Carrington, for which the Commonwealth Bank was a mandated lead arranger.

“The Commonwealth Bank is damaging the air quality of my community which is putting the health of my  seven grandchildren at risk,” Mr Hayes said. “I have come to Sydney today to attempt to deliver a bag of coal back to CommBank’s CEO, Ian Narev.”

Analysis by environmental finance group Market Forces shows that the Commonwealth Bank has loaned AU$6 billion to fossil fuel companies in the last eighteen months [2].

Despite public commitments to take action to limit global warming to no more than two degrees in late 2015 Commonwealth Bank last year loaned more than $3.8 billion to coal, gas and oil mining and infrastructure projects, making it the biggest funder of dirty fossil fuels in Australia in 2016.

“By continuing to invest in the coal industry, CommBank have failed both the Australian people and their own shareholders by exposing them to the risk of catastrophic climate change,” Moylan said.

“CommBank must change their climate policy before their AGM to recognise that climate related risks are real and to take significant measures to curb them.”

The PM will today announce a plan to reposition Australia's energy and emissions policy to scrap all renewable energy subsidies, abandon the Clean Energy Target (CET), and mandate the use of energy like coal and gas.

“Mandating coal and gas while abandoning renewables condemns our children's generation to a future of unchecked global warming,” Greenpeace Climate and Energy Campaigner, Nikola Casule, said.

“If this policy is adopted by the party room, nobody will take this PM seriously again.”

Greenpeace is calling on the PM to recognise the impossibility of achieving Australia’s promised national emissions reductions targets under the Paris Agreement under this new plan.

“We’ve had two sequential years of climate change-driven bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef and Queensland is in the grip of drought,” Casule said.

“But while Malcolm Turnbull knows Australia must move to reduce our emissions and combat climate change he is trying to appease the extreme elements in his party so he can keep his tenuous grip on power.   

“This is a slap in the face to anyone who cares about Australia's future.

“What’s more, recent reports have shown that renewables make energy cheaper. The best thing to do if you want to bring down prices is get more renewables into the grid.” [1]

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

[1] http://www.solarcitizens.org.au/solar_savings

For interviews contact:

Simon Black

Greenpeace Senior Media Campaigner

0418 219 086 / simon.black@greenpeace.org

Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews, today announced the ban saying he would look to move “as quickly as we can” on the issue.  

“With this move by Premier Andrews we now have NSW left as the odd state out in their failure to act on plastic bag pollution,” Greenpeace Senior Media Campaigner, Simon Black, said.

“NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, is now lagging behind every other state in Australia and even behind the major supermarket chains who have also taken action to ban the bag.”

In September Queensland and Western Australia joined South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the ACT in implementing bans on single-use plastic bags.

Premier Berejiklian in July said there was no need for NSW to ban single-use plastic bags as major supermarket chains had already done so.

But analysis done by Greenpeace Australian Pacific showed a failure to ban single use plastics means 1.1 billion bags would continue to be discarded each year in NSW alone.

“More than 1 billion bags in NSW will not be covered by the voluntary action by supermarkets. That’s billions of bags that Berejiklian is letting end up in our waterways and landfill,” Black said.

“Letting supermarkets lead the state on environmental issues would be weak even if it were effective, given that it will still not solve the problem the Premier’s inaction is disgraceful.

“The EPA’s director of waste management, Steve Beaman, was caught on tape talking about a ‘ban on bans’ in NSW [2] and if that’s the case it’s time to end that foolishness immediately.”

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

[1] http://bit.ly/2w4zQA9

[2] http://ab.co/2gMAGNn

For interviews contact:

Simon Black

Greenpeace Senior Media Campaigner

0418 219 086 / simon.black@greenpeace.org

The activists are there to deliver this message to the Norwegian government from around the world: Put People over Arctic Oil.

They are also displaying a constructed giant globe in front of the rig with written statements to the government.

Thirty-five activists from 25 countries are escalating a peaceful protest after tailing the rig for one month in the Barents Sea.

The Norwegian government has opened up a new oil frontier in the Arctic. The state-owned oil company has just started to drill for oil at the Korpfjell well, a controversial site 415km from land.

It is close to the ice edge and an important feeding area for seabirds. This is the first opening of new areas for oil drilling in 20 years and it is the northernmost area licensed by Norway.

The “environmentally friendly” Norwegian government granted new oil licenses, as part of the 23rd license round, in the Arctic on June 10 last year.

Just ten days after, they ratified the Paris Agreement.

Greenpeace US activist Britt Baker, at the location, said:

“As an American and global citizen, Trump's decision to retreat from the Paris climate agreement and boost fossil fuels at the expense of people around the world was devastating. Likewise, we see the Norwegian government opening new oil areas in the Arctic at full throttle, in spite of knowing the dangers it will have for future generations. The major difference between the situation in the U.S and Norway is that Trump left the Paris agreement with tunnel-vision motives to extend handouts to the flailing fossil fuel industry.

"Norway may as well have left the Paris agreement given the Norwegian's government desire to accelerate fossil fuel production. This government is showing the same disrespect to global climate commitments as Trump”

Greenpeace and its co-plaintiff Nature and Youth are taking the government to court in November, arguing that the new oil licenses are in breach of the Norwegian Constitution’s right to a healthy environment (Article 112). Despite the ongoing legal case, Statoil is drilling several new oil wells in the Arctic this summer.

Greenpeace Norway Arctic campaigner, Erlend Tellnes, from on board the Arctic Sunrise, said:

“Norway is not as green as their image. With one hand, the government have signed the Paris Agreement and profiled themselvesas an environmental champion, whilst handing out hundreds of new oil blocks in the Arctic with the other. They ignore and disrespect environmental, scientific recommendations and have offered the oil industry licenses in some of the most pristine areas of the Arctic. Now they have to answer for their actions in court."

Within a month more than 150,000 people have joined the call to the Norwegian government to respect the Norwegian Constitution and The Paris Agreement, bringing the number to 355,000.

Notes to Editors

Photos from the protest: http://media.greenpeace.org/collection/27MZIFJXVZK8M

Full collection from The People vs. Arctic Oil ship tour: http://bit.ly/2x9s0GC

Read more here about the climate lawsuit: http://www.greenpeace.org/norway/no/reports/Media-Briefing-Lawsuit-2017/

Read more about oil drilling in the Barents Sea: 

http://www.greenpeace.org/norway/no/reports/Media-Briefing-Oil-Drilling-in-the-Barents-Sea/

Media contacts

For interviews with activists and spokespersons on board:

Poul Bonke Justesen, communications lead, Greenpeace Nordic. Mobile: +45 2629 4938

Greenpeace International Press Desk:pressdesk.int@greenpeace.org +31 (0) 20 718 2470 (available 24 hours)

September 6, 2017: The credibility of Australia’s peak science body, CSIRO, has been rocked today by revelations that it has been a long-term financial supporter of mining super-lobbyists the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA).

The government’s peak scientific body has been a paid up member of a coalition of the nation’s biggest polluters since 2004, paying $10,000 for an “annual subscription” in 2017, documents obtained by The Australia Institute under FOI laws reveal.

“If AGL, Australia's biggest single carbon polluter, felt it had to quit the MCA in 2016 over its position on climate change, then it's incredible that the CSIRO is still involved,” Greenpeace Australia Pacific Climate and Energy Campaigner Nikola Casule said.

“Their support of the MCA goes against both the overwhelming scientific opinion on coal and climate, and the CSIRO's own statements about remaining separate from political and policy debates.”

The MCA has been a highly influential lobby group for the mining and energy industry for years, promoting coal mining and coal fired power, and lobbying against action on climate change. The MCA has in the past boasted to its members that it played a key role in abolishing the carbon and mining taxes in 2014.

Over the same period the CSIRO has been accused of failing to provide the government with free and independent advice on climate-related issues. In 2016 newly appointed CSIRO CEO, Larry Marshall, attempted to cut hundreds of positions in climate science at the organisation [1].

Emails leaked earlier this year revealed divisions within the CSIRO over its failure to make a submission to the government’s consultation on greenhouse gas emissions targets in 2009. [2]

“Greenpeace is all in favour of a robust, science-driven CSIRO. Australia certainly needs its independent scientists now more than ever - but we won’t hesitate to call out apparent industry capture when we see it,” said Casule.

Greenpeace is calling on CSIRO management to immediately cut all ties with the MCA.

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

[1] https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/feb/04/csiro-confirms-300-job-cuts-with-climate-research-bearing-the-brunt

[2] https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/sep/06/csiro-member-minerals-council-which-fights-climate-change-action

For interviews contact:

Martin Zavan

Greenpeace Media Campaigner

0424 295 422 / martin.zavan@greenpeace.org

Media reports published on Monday reveal potential conflicts of interests for NAIF Chair, Sharon Warburton, and NAIF board director, Justin Mannolini, in relation to a project that is being considered for a taxpayer subsidised loan. This is in addition to a previously highlighted possible conflict of interest involving director Karla Way-McPhail that sparked the Senate inquiry in the first place.

“These leaks reveal yet another potential conflict of interest at NAIF and are disappointing but sadly not surprising,” Greenpeace Climate and Energy Campaigner, Nikola Casule, said.

“When you fill a board almost entirely with current or former mining executives and ask them to make decisions about distributing $5 billion in taxpayer money, largely to mining companies, you can’t be surprised when you find yourself in this situation.”

The report reveals that the NAIF board have been approached for funding by the proponents of the Balla Balla project, which comprises a port and railway to the Pilbara Iron Ore project in Western Australia. The Balla Balla Infrastructure Group (BBIG) is majority owned by NZ's Todd Corporation.

The project poses a potential conflict of interest for the chair of the NAIF board, Sharon Warburton, who is also a non-Executive Director on the Board of Fortescue Metals - the fourth largest iron ore producer in the world and owner of the The Pilbara Infrastructure (TPI), which owns and operates a rail line and port facilities in the Pilbara.

NAIF director Justin Mannolini is a Partner with the WA law firm Gilbert + Tobin - a firm hired to advise the Balla Balla Infrastructure Group on the execution of a State Agreement with the Government of Western Australia for the project that it is seeking a loan from NAIF to fund. The firm’s advisory role for the Balla Balla Infrastructure Group is ongoing.

Mannolini is also the Chairman of the Board of Jindalee Resources - a company which has an interest in a number of iron and base metal projects in the Pilbara and other parts of Western Australia.

“The consideration of this project poses a potential conflict of interest for both a NAIF board director and the board’s chair, Sharon Warburton,” Casule said.

“When you combine this with the other potential conflicts within the board, NAIF’s refusal to respond in a substantive way to freedom of information requests, and assertions by prominent figures such as the former federal treasurer that it was setup to operate as a ‘slush fund’, it is clear that the NAIF is not fit for purpose.

“The ongoing Senate inquiry into the NAIF has an obligation to get to the bottom of these new allegations and to call a second hearing as part of their inquiry. In the meantime, NAIF’s operations must be suspended until all outstanding questions regarding conflict of interest and transparency are addressed.”

Last month the Senate ran a hearing into the NAIF and any potential conflicts of interest on its board after it was revealed one of the directors also runs mining labour and equipment hire companies and had made “hyper-partisan comments” online in support of the coal industry.

For interviews contact:

Simon Black

Greenpeace Senior Media Campaigner

0418 219 086 / simon.black@greenpeace.org

Martin Zavan

Greenpeace Media Campaigner

0424 295 422 / martin.zavan@greenpeace.org

PwC promotes itself as a corporate leader on environmental issues but the firm is putting its reputation at risk through its membership of the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA), which has repeatedly boasted about stymying action on climate change.

PwC was the first professional services firm in Australia to becarbon neutral certifiedunder the National Carbon Offset Standard and is also a member of the UN Global Compact, which says businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges and undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility.

“PwC has taken some positive steps to mitigate its carbon footprint but all of this good work is put into question by its funding of the Minerals Council,” Greenpeace Australia Pacific Climate and Energy Campaigner, Nikola Casule, said.

“The MCA not only questions the science of climate change but aggressively lobbies governments to prevent them from taking action to address it. If PwC wants to continue to be viewed as a business leader on environmental sustainability and climate change, it cannot simultaneously support the MCA and its anti-environmental positions.

“If PwC genuinely believes in the environmental issues it has chosen to take a stand on it should follow AGL’s lead and quit the Minerals Council.”

Last year AGL, the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in Australia, dropped its membership of the MCA over the company’s different position on renewable energy.

For interviews contact:

Martin Zavan

Greenpeace Media Campaigner

0424 295 422 / martin.zavan@greenpeace.org

For photos:

http://media.greenpeace.org/shoot/27MZIFJXDUQB2

The guerilla art installation was created and placed among the other art exhibits by a dozen Greenpeace activists who are protesting the Premier’s refusal to join other states in regulating the use of single-use plastic bags.

“Our analysis shows that the NSW government can’t continue to make excuses for their inaction on plastic pollution,” Greenpeace activist, Maggie Koussa, said.

“Every state other than NSW have moved to ban single use plastic bags but Premier Berejiklian continues to do nothing.”

Premier Berejiklian in July said there was no need for NSW to ban single-use plastic bags as major supermarket chains had already done so.

But analysis done by Greenpeace Australian Pacific showed a failure to ban single use plastics means 1.1 billion bags would continue to be discarded each year in NSW alone.

“More than 1 billion bags in NSW will not be covered by the voluntary action by supermarkets. That’s billions of bags that Berejiklian has an environmental responsibility to keep out of our waterways and landfill,” Koussa said.

“Letting supermarkets lead the state on environmental issues would be weak even if it were effective, given that it will still not solve the problem the Premier’s inaction is disgraceful.

“Our oceans are already being clogged up with plastic pollution, and the last thing we need is billions of more bags across NSW ending up in these states’ beautiful beaches, waterways and oceans to strangle and suffocate marine life.”

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

[1] http://bit.ly/2w4zQA9

For interviews contact:

Maggie Koussa

0452 621 472 / maggie.koussa@gmail.com

The UN Environment Programme's ‘Emissions Gap 2017’ report overnight found that pledges made by nations at Paris in 2015 are only around one-third of what is required to halt global average temperatures rising two degrees or more above pre-industrial levels.

Australia has pledged to cut its 2005 emissions by 26-28 per cent by 2030 but the report highlighted the federal government’s own forecasts, which show the nation is set to dramatically miss the target.

Australia is projected to emit 592 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent a year by 2030, well above the targeted range of 429-440 million tonnes.

“Coal is at the heart of Australia’s emissions problems yet the Coalition’s hopelessly compromised energy policy does nothing to address this,” Greenpeace campaigner Jonathan Moylan said.

“Australia's failure to adopt a policy to phase out coal exports was specifically criticised by the UNEP report and Pacific leaders, including Tuvalu Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga, who said that Australia was stuck in the dark ages with its reliance on fossil fuels.”

Only yesterday the World Meteorological Organization’s Greenhouse Gas Bulletin revealed that CO2 levels in the atmosphere had reached their highest level last year in 800,000 years.

Rapidly increasing levels of CO2 and other greenhouse gases can spark unprecedented changes in climate systems, the WMO said.

With world leaders meeting next week in Bonn, Germany for the annual UN climate negotiations, COP23, it’s clear that a strong and shared vision must emerge if the world is to close the 2030 emissions gap and stem the increasing levels of CO2 levels in our atmosphere.

“In the space of just two days we have seen how levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) have surged at ‘record-breaking speed’ to new highs in 2016 and how the world’s governments are still not living up to the promises they made in Paris. Time is running out,” Greenpeace International Executive Director Jennifer Morgan said:

“The sooner we act, the better. This year’s spate of climate-fuelled hurricanes, floods and drought will rapidly worsen if we fail to seize our moment. The obligation for all countries meeting in Bonn and going forward must be to keep fossil fuels in the ground.

“Paris was just the starting point. Faster, bolder action is needed. Leaders must emerge in Bonn and use the platform to take stronger action and hold others to account if they fail to live up to their obligations. We can still achieve 1.5 degrees Celsius if we all work together.”

Greenpeace is calling for countries to use the first stocktake of collective climate action (the facilitative dialogue) in 2018 to unveil stronger climate ambition.

“The message is clear: our climate is changing and governments must ramp up their action. But more than that, we must also start talking about the responsibilities of carbon producers,” Morgan added.

“Carbon producers have so far avoided taking responsibility, in any form, for greenhouse gas emissions from their products. That must and will change. The world’s carbon producers have a responsibility to contribute to limiting climate change through investment in mitigation, support for adaptation and compensation for climate damages.”

For interviews contact:

Greenpeace Media Campaigner Martin Zavan

+61424 295 422

martin.zavan@greenpeace.org