PRESS RELEASES

 8th December 2005

Oil Barons Aim to Derail Kyoto’s Future

As UN climate change talks in Montreal reach a crucial stage, The Guardian has obtained documents that reveal how lobbyists funded by the US oil industry have launched a campaign in Europe aimed at derailing efforts to tackle greenhouse gas pollution and climate change. The strategy documents bring to light a systematic plan to persuade European business, politicians and the media that the EU should abandon its commitments under the Kyoto protocol, the international agreement that aims to reduce emissions that lead to global warming.

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Tooting, Stephanie Dearden said:-

We can only hope that the Montreal negotiations end in success. But the omens are not good. We need a system of mandatory, enforceable national targets, not just a stream of wishy-washy aspirations. Anything less would mean that climate change is simply not taken seriously. That would be a disaster.

ENDS

  Stephanie Dearden

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Tooting

Notes to editors

1. More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,16518,1661916,00.html

2. If you would like to arrange an interview with Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Tooting Stephanie Dearden then please call 020-7771-2551 or 07985-649807 or 07754 583090
3. Official photographs here http://www.stephaniedearden.org/smd_mugs/index.htm