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News and information

Royal Dutch Shell Forced to Settle Human Rights Case Out of Court

Damning evidence reveals Shell’s complicity with crimes against humanity. Landmark case resolved in favour of families of executed Nigerian environmental leader Ken Saro-Wiwa and others after 14 year legal battle.

10.06.2009

Complaint to OECD on Cermaq

Protests against Cermaq in Canada

Norges Naturvernforbund / Friends of the Earth Norway and the umbrella organisation ForUM[1] yesterday lodged a formal complaint against Cermaq’s salmon farming practices for the breach of a number of articles in OECD’s[2] guidelines for multinational companies concerning production sustainability, employment conditions and human rights. The Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry holds 43.5 percent of the Cermaq shares.

20.05.2009

Help us save the wild salmon in Canada

Alexandra Morton

Alexandra Morton, an internationally known whale researcher and author, has spent the past 22 years documenting the impact of salmon farming on the Broughton Archipelago ecosystem. She is a member of the international delegation presently in Norway and hosted by Norges Naturvernforbund / Friends of the Earth Norway. In a very personal appeal she urged Norway to help.

20.05.2009

International focus on major problems with farmed salmon industry

Ill. photo: Kåre Olerud

From May 18 until 28 Norges Naturvernforbund/Friends of the Earth Norway is hosting a delegation from the global Pure Salmon Campaign coalition. The 13 members of the delegation visit Norway to highlight major problems plaguing the farmed salmon industry. – Our guests document the negative effects of fish farming threat on wild salmon and local societies, said Lars Haltbrekken, FoEN’s chair.

18.05.2009

‘ShellGuilty’ Campaign Launched As Shell Trial Date Confirmed

Ill. photo: Wikipedia.org

- Days after a judge confirmed Shell Oil will stand trial here May 26 on charges it was complicit in the murders of Ken Saro-Wiwa [1] and eight other Nigerian activists, environmental and human rights groups announced they have formed a global campaign to hold Shell accountable and demand that it stop gas flaring [2] in Nigeria.

27.04.2009

World Forests Rapidly Disappearing - Biofuwels A Major Drive

Ill.photo: FoEI

- In a reaction to the alarming data released recently in the 2009 State of the World’s Forests report by the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), Friends of the Earth International [1] and the Global Forest Coalition [2], two leading networks of environmental and Indigenous Peoples' Organisations, called on world governments to take immediate action to halt deforestation and forest degradation.

21.03.2009

Who benefits from GMO crops?

Ill.foto: USDA/Wikipedia

A new report from Friends of the Earth International exposes the reasons why GM crops cannot contribute to poverty reduction, global food security or sustainable farming. - Biotech crops are benefiting biotech food giants instead of small farmers and the world’s hungry population, which due to the food crisis is projected to increase to 1.2 billion by the year 2025 [1], warns Friends of the Earth International.

04.03.2009

Shell Makes Millions, But Fails to Clean Up Mess

Brussels/Amsterdam, 29 January 2009 - Billions of Euros made by Royal Dutch Shell should be ploughed into cleaning up the mess made by its operations around the world, Friends of the Earth urged today as the oil giant announced €21.5 billion profits for 2008. [1]

30.01.2009

European Commission pushes for new GM crops in Europe

Ill. photo: USDA

Last week The European Commission issued proposals for two new varieties of genetically modified (GM) maize to be grown in Europe despite outstanding safety concerns. In a proposal sent to EU member states, the Commission also says it wants to force Greece, Hungary and France to drop their national bans on a similar GM maize [1].

26.01.2009

Nigeria Pressured to Stop Companies Flaring Gas

Gas flaring in Nigeria. Photo: Peter Roderick, FoE

Lagos (Nigeria), Brussels (Belgium), January 12, 2009 – While Europe faces gas shortages, Friends of the Earth International is putting the Nigerian government under pressure to ensure that oil companies stop flaring Nigerian gas.

12.01.2009

World Bank unfit to manage climate funds

POZNAN, POLAND - 142 organisations fighting for climate justice are issuing today (Tuesday 9 December) at the UN climate talks a joint statement rejecting any role for the World Bank in controlling climate change finance. [1]

09.12.2008

Climate talks: Rich countries dodge decision on adaption fund

POZNAN, POLAND, 5 December 2008 - At the UN climate talks in Poland, industrialised countries are dodging the issue of funding poorer countries' adaptation to climate change.

05.12.2008

No oil activity in the Barents Sea and Lofoten/Vesterålen

Friends of the Earth International (FOEI) calls for the Barents Sea and Lofoten/Vesterålen to remain free of oil and gas activity. In a statement from FOEI, the worldwide network of environmental organisations urges the Norwegian government to reject the Italian oil company ENI’s plan for exploiting the Goliat oil field in the Barents Sea and establish permanent protection of sensitive areas off the coast of Northern Norway from all oil and gas activities.

04.12.2008

Climate Change: Ambition Missing at Upcoming U.N. Talks

On 1-12 December 2008, the Polish city of Poznan will host crucial United Nations climate talks. The UN reported this week that greenhouse gas emissions in industrialised countries continue to rise, exposing their lack of ambition to seriously address the climate threat.

21.11.2008

World's first Climate Change Law is a victory for people power

Photo: Friends of the Earth EWNI

The UK Parliament voted this week for the world's first Climate Change Law upping the pressure on other European governments to legally commit to cut emissions and on the European Union to agree a strong climate and energy package.

30.10.2008

Belarusian NGOs ready to fight climate change

Lars Haltbrekken talks about climate change

With support from Norges Naturvernforbund, the alliance of Belarusian environmental organizations, the Green Alliance, has started a national climate campaign in Belarus. The campaign started with a national climate seminar in Minsk on the 2nd and 3rd of October 2008 where a total of 27 participants representing different regions of Belarus attended the whole seminar.

24.10.2008

GMOs in Europe

The future of GMOs in Europe is being debated at the highest levels within the EU. Friends of the Earth Europe is deeply involved and has put together a new webpage with information and resources for FoE member groups, GMO campaigners and individual members.

23.10.2008

Climate talks on forests end amidst fears over 'carbon colonialism'

Accra, Ghana, 27. august, 2008 - The United Nations climate talks ending today and focused on 'Reducing Emissions from Deforestation in Developing Countries' risk moving towards 'carbon colonialism', Friends of the Earth International campaigners warned.

27.08.2008

Great land grab threat at U.N. climate talks in Ghana

Accra (Ghana) – Delegates attending the United Nations climate talks in Accra on 21^th – 27^th August will focus on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation in Developing Countries (REDD) but environmental campaigners are warning against the inclusion of forests in carbon markets.

26.08.2008

Consumers left at risk as EFSA ignores scientific consensus on bisphenol A

Brussels, 24 July 2008 - The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) yesterday issued its revised opinion on Bisphenol A and confirmed a five-fold increase in the authorised daily intake of this chemical [1], a move condemned by Friends of the Earth Europe.

24.07.2008

EU must not give way on road to fuel efficiency

Brussels, 3 July 2008 - Green campaigners today urged the European Union to 'push for fuel efficiency' and agree tough targets for reducing the fuel Consumption of cars.

03.07.2008

Norges Naturvernforbund at anti-nuclear workshop

Norges Naturvernforbund co-organized a successful anti-nuclear workshop in Lithuania’s capital Vilnius last weekend. At the seminar NGO representatives from Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Scandinavia discussed plans for building new nuclear power plants in the region. The NGOs agreed to cooperate and to share information about their respective countries’ plans to build new nuclear power plants and to make a common strategy to fight this.

17.06.2008

A cost/benefit study of improving environmental standards will be demanded from Norwegian company

Photo: Ecoceanos

The proposal will be presented in Oslo on Monday, at Marine Harvest’s Annual General Meeting.

06.06.2008

Norwegian Government Urged to Protect Canadian Wild Salmon From Cermaq Salmon Farms

Sea lice. Photo: Alexandra Morton

This week Norges Naturvernforbund/Friends of the Earth Norway (FoEN) is hosting and assisting a delegation with members from Canada and Chile. One of them is David Lane, Executive Director of the T. Buck Suzuki Environmental Foundation. He is representing The Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform (CAAR) in British Columbia. CAAR is demanding action on salmon farming at the Annual General Meeting of the second largest salmon farming company operating in B.C., Cermaq and from its controlling shareholder, the Norwegian government.

22.05.2008

Media Interview opportunity - Norwegian owned fish farming giants target for international critics

The Norwegian owned salmon farm companies Cermaq and Marine Harvest are operating with an obvious double standard in their international operations in Chile and British Columbia, Canada, according to a delegation visiting Oslo this week. Members of the delegation have brought written documentation and new film footage substantiating their claims. They will be available for media interviews.

20.05.2008

Nuclear plan to deputy governor in Murmansk

Sobbotin, Album, Ivanov and Zhavoronkin.

Norges Naturvernforbund and Russian partners Gaia and Green World met with deputy governor of Murmansk oblast, Sergey Sobbotin, to present the concept of decommission plan that the NGOs have written together.

19.05.2008

- Norwegian Fish Farming Industry Are Operating With A Double Standard Abroad

Dying of sea lice. Photo: A. Morton

These are the calls from the coasts of Chile and Canada as leaders of native Indian, wilderness tourism, fishing union and environmental organisations bear witness in Norway. The Norwegian salmon farming industry's problems abroad are coming home to roost next week with the visit of an international delegation.

15.05.2008

Cases filed against Norwegian Fish Farming Companies at People’s Tribunal

Several Norwegian corporations are being targeted by social organizations that filed cases before the Peoples’ Permanent Tribunal, which is taking place in Lima, Peru this week.

14.05.2008

Friends of the Earth Norway develops energy activites in Caucasus and Central Asia

Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs supports SPARE and practical energy projects in Caucasus, Central Asia and Moldova by 4,2 million NOK. By this Norges Naturvernforbund / Friends of the Earth Norway (FoEN) can apply positive experience already gained from practical energy projects in the region, and in cooperation with local partners FoEN will promote efficient energy issues on national level in several of the participating countries in the region.

02.05.2008

Take action to promote recycling across Europe

The European Union’s main waste law is currently being reviewed, which forms the basis for waste policy in every EU country. Environmental groups across Europe are calling for more waste prevention, reuse, recycling and composting – without encouraging more incineration. We invite you to join our campaign.

20.04.2008

The white wilderness needs our care

The Antarctic and The Southern Ocean. Ill.: Wikipedia.org

Antarctica and the Southern Ocean constitute the planet’s last great wilderness; yet even that faraway region is becoming increasingly overcrowded. There are fishing boats, both legal and illegal including a new breed that vacuum krill from the sea. There are commercial tourism operations, research ships, private yachts, whaling fleets, and supply vessels. Friends of the Earth International and the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition have already taken action and suggested ways of action to the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

16.04.2008

EU misses another chance to act on climate change

Brussels, 16 March 2008 - European leaders have missed another opportunity to take the tough action necessary to avert dangerous climate change, warn Friends of the Earth Europe as the Spring Summit of the European Council closed in Brussels on Friday.

16.03.2008

Harmful EU funding - NGOs announce 'RegioScars': the three most ill-conceived projects

Brussels, 26 February - A new map with details of 50 environmentally damaging and economically dubious infrastructure projects in Central and Eastern Europe was launched by CEE Bankwatch Network and Friends of the Earth Europe in Brussels yesterday [1]. Based on the most extensive investigation to date, the map entitled 'Cohesion or Collision?' shows controversial projects with a total cost of EUR 22 billion. The projects are either already financed, or planned to be financed, by EU structural and cohesion funds and/or the European Investment Bank (EIB) [2].

26.02.2008

Germany Increases Solar Power Production: An Alternative To Fight Against Climate Change

The European Commission has called the countries of the bloc to cut their GHG emissions at least by 20% to year 2020, and by 30% if there is an international agreement, having as reference the levels registered in 1990. The Commission also demanded , with a 12 year long deadline, that the 20% of the energy produced by the bloc comes from renewable sources and that the energetic performance increases 20 % as well.

06.02.2008

EU greenhouse gas target too weak to stop climate change

Brussels, January 2008 - As the European Commission revealed its proposals for a new energy package [1] Friends of the Earth Europe warned that plans to cut the EU's greenhouse gas emissions by only 20 percent will not be sufficient to avert dangerous climate change. The environment group says the Commission has backtracked on its position at international climate negotiations just weeks ago and calls on the Parliament and the Council of Ministers to dramatically strengthen the target.

25.01.2008

EU biofuel policy left in tatters - Leaked internal report highlights failings of biofuels

Brussels, January 2008 A leaked internal European Commission document gives a damning verdict on the EU's proposals to set a mandatory 10 per cent target for the use of biofuels in transport. The report, obtained by Friends of the Earth Europe and BirdLife International, reveals that the EU's biofuels policy is likely to have a net cost of up to 65 billion euros, need huge amounts of land outside of Europe and questions whether it will make any greenhouse gas savings at all.

20.01.2008

Saab warned to withdraw 'greenwash' ads or face legal challenge

Brussels, 10 January 2008 - Swedish car manufacturer, Saab was today told to stop portraying its cars as environmentally friendly or face legal action for misleading advertising. A summons [1], instigated by Friends of the Earth Europe and delivered by bailiff to Saab's Belgian office, calls on the company to remove all wording and imagery from its website and brochures which associate its cars with nature or the protection of the environment. It must also withdraw false claims that driving a Saab reduces CO2 emissions.

10.01.2008

Friends of the Earth victory - 'Sustainable Palm Oil' advert false, says watchdog

Brussels (Belgium) / London (UK), 9 January 2008 - Friends of the Earth Europe has welcomed a ruling today by the UK advertising watchdog that describing palm oil as "sustainably produced" is false advertising. The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruling followed a Friends of the Earth Europe complaint against an advert by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council. [1]

09.01.2008

New report: Illegal merbau in floors and exterior doors - Europe drives forest destruction

Friends of the Earth Netherlands / Milieudefensie

Amsterdam, Brussels 18 December 2007 - Four years after the EU Action Plan on illegal timber was introduced, illegal and destructive timber continues to pour across Europe's borders. A report released by Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace shows that European consumers continue to unknowingly buy flooring and exterior doors made from illegally and destructively logged merbau, a species threatened with extinction.

20.12.2007

Kyoto afloat after attempted sabotage

BALI (INDONESIA) December 16, 2007 – Negotiators reached a deal in Bali on Saturday on taking forward the Kyoto Protocol, but Friends of the Earth International expressed deep disappointment at the weak content following many attempts to derail the talks by the some delegations.

16.12.2007

What is the real U.S. agenda in Bali?

Bali (Indonesia), December 13, 2007 -- The United States’ administration was today accused of seeking to derail progress at the United Nations climate talks in Bali, with a series of moves designed to create a deal with no content.

13.12.2007

Countries must act: Bali mandate at stake

Bali, 12 Dec: Friends of the Earth International today warned Ministers arriving at the UN climate talks in Bali that they have a huge task ahead at these talks if they are to be deemed a success.

12.12.2007

Happy 10th Birthday Kyoto

Bali (Indonesia) December 11, 2007. On the 10th anniversary of the agreement of the Kyoto Protocol, Friends of the Earth International urged industrialised countries to celebrate by announcing a commitment to agree further cuts in greenhouse gas emissions of at least 40 per cent by 2020.

11.12.2007

Friends of the Earth Europe opposes attempts to water down EU GMOs safety standards

Brussels, 23 November 2007. - EU can still feed livestock without new GMOs, Friends of the Earth Europe stated today and warned EU Farm Ministers not to slacken safety rules for imports of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The issue is up for debate at the Agriculture Council on Monday and follows a lobbying campaign by the animal feed and biotechnology industries to persuade politicians that Europe could run out of animal feed as a result of the EU's strict line on GMOs – an argument which Friends of the Earth Europe strongly disputes.

23.11.2007

Stop destructive palm oil - EU must say no to palm oil for energy and transport fuel

Ill.photo: K. Olerud

Brussels/Amsterdam, November 2007 - Green campaigners warn that proposals for certifying palm oil as sustainable are flawed. As the Round Table for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) presented proposals to label sustainable palm oil last month, Friends of the Earth groups staged an installation of screaming tree stumps outside the meeting in Brussels, representing the current environmental violations caused by producing palm oil.

22.11.2007

New figures reveal UK Government spending millions on GM research

Photo: USDA

Government funding for agricultural biotechnology research, including GM, amounted to at least £49 million last year, and £50 million the previous year, a Friends of the Earth EWNI report has revealed [1]. Despite extensive Government commitments to sustainable farming, research into organic farming received a small fraction of this: just £1.6 million funding from DEFRA last year. This information comes to light as the EU Environment Commissioner proposed that two GM maize crops should not be approved for growing because of the risks they pose to the environment [2].

15.11.2007

Climate Change: Urgent action and robust policies must match dire warnings

On 12-17 November a synthesis report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will be adopted and approved by governments in Valencia, Spain. - The IPCC has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are facing an emergency situation and that tackling climate change is critical if we are to safeguard the survival of humanity, said Friends of the Earth International climate campaigner Joseph Zacune.

12.11.2007

Tiny technology with massive implications

This is a head line from Friends of the Earth Europe’s new web site on nanotechnology. There FoEE tries to answer important questions like: What is nanotechnology? What are the uses of this new technology? What dangers are linked with it? And what is FoEE’s position on nanotechnology?

12.11.2007

Violent attacks on farmers occupying a Syngenta GMO field trial in Brazil - Statement of solidarity

Friends of the Earth Europe condemns the attacks last month by armed militia on peasant farmers in Paraná state, Brazil, which resulted in one farmer shot dead and six seriously wounded. According to reports by Via Campesina, the global family farmers’ movement, the peasants were occupying peacefully a Syngenta GMO maize and soy test site when armed militia attacked [1].

05.11.2007

Appeal: Help Save The Maelstrom Saltstraumen, World Nature Attraction in Northern Norway

Photo: Elisabeth Johnston, Tuvsjyen AS

Saltstraumen is recognized throughout the world as the strongest Maelstrom and is as such unique. The area is easily accessible under a public right of way. A vast number of tourists and locals visit the place every year to enjoy the display of immense natural forces. However, plans have been proposed to close parts of the area and construct several estates with a large number of private cottages and holiday homes on or in the immediate vicinity to the beach. Friends of the Earth Norway / Norges Naturvernforbund urgently needs your support to stop these plans and keep the entire area open to the public.

05.11.2007

Too close for comfort - The relationship between the biotech industry and the European Commission

This is the title of a revealing analysis published by Friends of the Earth Europe. It is no secret that the EU political class has embraced the neoliberal agenda. In food and farming this translates as high-technology intensive farming with patented inputs and outputs that generate wealth for European industry.

02.11.2007

Planet’s Tougher Problems Persist, UN Report Warns

Nairobi/New York, 25 October: The United Nations Environment Programme says that major threats to the planet such as climate change, the rate of extinction of species, and the challenge of feeding a growing population are among the many that remain unresolved, and all of them put humanity at risk.

25.10.2007

Exposed: ExxonMobil is working to prevent action on climate change

Support the complaint

Brussels 26 September – Today Friends of the Earth Europe will release The Exxon Files - an animation spoof exposing how oil giant ExxonMobil is working to prevent action on climate change. The cartoon's website, www.exxon-files.eu, asks people to add their support to a formal complaint about the company's misleading advertising.

26.09.2007

Climate justice needed to address global warming

Washington, DC, USA / London, UK, 24 September 2007 – The Chair of Friends of the Earth International, Meena Raman, will warn the world's Heads of State today that 'climate justice' needs to be urgently addressed in the fight against global warming. Meena Raman, from Malaysia, will address the participants of the New York United Nations (UN) 'informal' Climate Summit, a meeting attended today by some 80 Heads of State.

24.09.2007

Peoples' sovereignty or corporate interests?

Photo: REDES FoE Uruguay

A new publication of REDES-Friends of the Earth Uruguay and the Program Uruguay Sustentable that gathers several groups of the country, exposes the negative impacts of the so called "investor-State dispute settlement mechanisms" on the environment and on human rights. Through these mechanisms, the corporations ensure the protection of their interests above the national laws and international human rights and environment treaties.

10.08.2007

Europe not hungry for GM potatoes - EU Agriculture Council rejects latest attempt to grow GMOs

Brussels - Friends of the Earth Europe has welcomed EU member states' rejection of the latest application to grow GMOs in Europe, as the EU Agriculture Council last week failed to approve the commercial growing of a genetically modified potato. There have now been no new GMOs grown in the EU for ten years.

23.07.2007

Olympic host city Sochi's waste dumps carry the hreat of ecological disaster

- The dumps are gross violations of the law. Photo: EWNC

Sochi, Russian host city to the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, is under severe criticism for lack of environmental performance. An active waste dump is in a totally unsuitable location and is the source of major soil, water and air pollution. - The pollution level of oil waste and heavy metals in the dump’s territory and the river below it is ten times higher than the maximum allowable concentration, writes Andrey Rudomakha, spokesman of the Environmental Watch on North Caucasus (EWNC). The Herota River falls into Black Sea on Adler’s City beach.

25.07.2007

Friends of the Earth Norway explores new areas of work in Tajikistan

Through its international school project SPARE, Friends of the Earth Norway has established good contact with Tajikistan and other former Soviet republics in central Asia. Returning from a visit to the country this summer to identify new areas of cooperation, project officer Claes Book brings back interesting prospects and reports on them to wwwnaturvern.no.

24.07.2007

EU member states late on plans to cut energy waste

Brussels - Friends of the Earth Europe has raised concerns at the EU's poor commitment to cut its energy waste after 24 of the 27 EU member states missed the deadline for submitting their National Energy Efficiency Action Plans. Only Finland, Denmark and the UK have delivered their plans on time.

09.07.2007

Russian organisations say No to Olympic Games at any cost!

Environmental and human rights communities of Russia oppose the hosting of Olympic Games in their country fearing nature destruction and Sochi citizens rights infringements. - In the run-up to the IOC decision to select Sochi as the host city for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, Russian state authorities have been eager to turn the course of events to their favour and launched an intensive propaganda campaign aimed at demonstrating wide popular support for the idea to host the Games, writes Environmental Watch on North Caucasus (EWNC).

06.07.2007

Oil giant Shell told to stop “Greenwashing”

Amsterdam (The Netherlands), July 5th - The Dutch Advertising Authority has instructed oil giant Shell to stop misleading the public, after Friends of the Earth Netherlands filed a complaint against a “greenwash” advertisement that claimed that Shell uses its waste carbon dioxide to grow flowers.[1]

05.07.2007

G8: Campaigners demand alternative approach

May 31st 2007 -- Campaigners warned today that the leaders of the eight most industrialised nations (or G8) are not tackling the root causes of poverty and climate change at upcoming G8 talks in Heiligendamm, Germany from 6-8 June. [1]

31.05.2007

Critical documentary on fish farming practices in Chile

OSLO - May 20 - The award winning Chilean film "Ovas de Oro", "Golden Eggs" will be shown for the first time in Norway on Monday. The one hour long documentary is subtitled in English and focuses on social and environmental aspects of Norwegian salmon farming i Chile. Particular attention is paid to Mainstream Chile, a subsidiary of Cermaq, the world’s second largest fish farming company. Cermaq’s majority stockholder is the Norwegian State.

19.05.2007

Shell’s misleading ad: Complaint submitted

May 10, 2007, BRUSSELS, LONDON, THE HAGUE - Complaints were filed on May 8 in three European countries against a shameless advert that makes exaggerated and misleading green claims about oil giant Shell's operations. - Oil refineries emit smoke not flowers, said Paul de Clerck, Friends of the Earth Europe Corporates Campaigner.

10.05.2007

Cruise Ship Pollution Lawsuit Seeks Action from U.S. EPA

Agency failed to respond to petition filed by 53 organizations in 2000; Cruise ships are still allowed to dump untreated sewage and other wastes directly into ocean.

10.05.2007

Friends of the Earth Norway’s work on nuclear energy issues

FoE Norway was active in the campaign that ended with Parliament saying no to nuclear energy. However, there are two small reactors for scientific / research use. Every year, before a new state budget is adopted by Parliament, we urge politician to stop the funding of these two old test reactors, but so far we have not succeeded.

26.04.2007

Norway to cut emissions by 30 % within 2020

Announced historic climate targets

The Norwegian Prime Minister announced Thursday that Norway will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 % within 2020 and aims to be carbon neutral within 2050. Norway will also sharpen its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol by ten per cent in the period up to 2012.

23.04.2007

New report: EU funding plans in clash with climate

Brussels, Belgium, April 11 - The EU funding plans of the new member states for 2007-2013 are on a collision course with EU climate goals and Poland even plans to increase its emissions by 31%,a new report by Friends of the Earth Europe and CEE Bankwatch Network warned today [1]. The NGOs called on the European Commission President Barroso and Commissioners Hûbner and Dimas to intervene and insist on urgent changes in the draft funding plans, which are currently being negotiated between the Commission and each member state [2].

11.04.2007

Climate change: Poor suffer as world gets hotter

BRUSSELS (BELGIUM) APRIL 6, 2007 – Friends of the Earth International has demanded steep emissions cuts by all rich countries and more funding for climate change adaptation in developing countries, after the world's leading scientific experts today warned that the world's poor - who have done least to pollute the atmosphere - will suffer most as the planet
heats up.

09.04.2007

Stark findings on climate crisis

1st February 2007, Brussels - In light of tomorrow's release of the latest, starkest findings on climate change, Friends of the Earth Europe has called for the EU to swap grand words with serious action to face up to the crisis. Next month, EU leaders must - at their annual Summit - set ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing renewable energy use.

01.02.2007

Appeal to Shell: Use your profit to clean up your mess

January 31st 2007, Brussels, Amsterdam, London - A new report, launched the day before oil giant Shell announces its 2006 annual profits (on 1 February 2007), calls on Shell to use its profits to begin cleaning up damage it has caused to communities and the environment [1]. The report offers proposals and figures for where and how Shell should repair some of the damage it has caused in nine communities around the world.

31.01.2007

Biotech crops fail to deliver - comment on industry-released figures

Kuala Lumpur, Lagos, Brussels, January 18, 2007 - Commenting on today’s publication by the biotech industry of their estimates of the area planted with genetically modified (GM) crops, Nnimmo Bassey of Friends of the Earth Africa in Nigeria said: - No genetically modified crop on the market today has done anything to alleviate hunger or poverty in Africa or elsewhere.

18.01.2007

EU energy package too feeble to fight climate change

	FoEEs Carbon Dinosaur against climate change

Brussels, 10 January 2007 – European Commission favours dirty energy over renewables, contradicting its own findings on the best way forward. The European Commission's Energy Package, released today, is largely "good news for the dirty energy industry, bad news for people and the planet", according to Friends of the Earth Europe (FoEE).

11.01.2007

- Europe must become the world champion in energy and resource efficiency

EU's dependency on energy import is rising dramatically. With no major changes made over the next 20 to 30 years, approximately 70% of the EU's energy will have to be imported.- It's time to hear the wakeup-call, urges Martin Rocholl, chairman of Friends of the Earth Europe. In collaboration with two colleagues, he recently published a guidebook to policies and legislative initiatives within the European Union.

05.01.2007

NCA recommends covering wrecked mercury-submarine outside Bergen

Photo: Norwegian Coastal Administration

The wreck of a World War II German submarine about two nautical miles off the coast of western Norway is leaking liquid mercury to the surrounding marine environment. – We have urged the authorities to stop the pollution and raise the wreck. The Norwegian Coastal Administration (NCA) recommends a different approach, which we have to study in detail before we accept or reject it, commented Mr Lars Haltbrekken, president of Friends of the Earth Norway after an NCA press conference.

20.12.2006

ExxonMobil and DG Internal Market win worst EU lobby awards 2006

	Voted worst - Left red-faced

Brussels, 13 December - ExxonMobil and DG Internal Market were left red-faced today when they topped the polls in the “Worst EU Lobby Awards 2006”. The winners of the awards were publicly announced at a ceremony organised by Corporate Europe Observatory, Friends of the Earth Europe, LobbyControl and Spinwatch [1].

13.12.2006

Insecticides threaten Europe’s Bees

Photo: André Karwath, Wikipedia

Brussels, December, 2006 - EU authorities will shortly announce whether they will authorise Fipronil, a molecule used in the manufacture of new insecticides. This active substance is suspected of seriously harming bees. Friends of the Earth Europe, Inter-Environnement Wallonie (IEW), Nature et Progrès Belgique, and Pesticides Action Network Europe (PAN Europe), call on the EU not to authorise Fipronil, which has yet to be fully evaluated.

13.12.2006

REACH, a deal too far

December 10, 2006, Brussels – European environmental, women’s, health and consumer groups denounce a deal struck behind closed doors between representatives of the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers on the ‘REACH’ chemicals legislation. If adopted at the plenary vote, the deal will allow many chemicals of very high concern - including many that cause cancer, birth defects and other serious illnesses - to stay on the market and be used in consumer products even when safer alternatives are available. The groups call on Parliamentarians to strengthen REACH when they vote on the proposal in mid-December.

09.12.2006

EU refuses to fight WTO ruling on GM foods - Dangerous precedent set for future disputes

Brussels/Geneva, 1 December - Friends of the Earth Europe has condemned last month's decision by the EU not to contest a controversial ruling by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in the transatlantic trade war over genetically modified foods. The environmental NGO has warned that accepting the ruling, which ignored international environmental agreements, sets a dangerous precedent for future environmental disputes.

01.12.2006

Lobby scandal: Earnshaw accused of conflicting interests

Brussels, 30 November - Friends of the Earth Europe today submitted a complaint to the European Public Affairs Consultancies Association (EPACA), accusing well-known lobbyist David Earnshaw of a conflict of interest between his work lobbying for pharmaceutical clients and his role as an "independent expert" advising the European Parliament's Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) Committee. [1] EPACA's Code of Conduct requires public affairs practitioners to avoid any conflicts of interest.

30.11.2006

Great Warming Call to Action

(New York, NY— Nov., 2006) The launch of a major statement calling for immediate action on climate change has brought together a diverse coalition of voices from every spectrum of thought, all of whom believe that environmental stewardship and creation care must become a top policy priority.

28.11.2006

MEPs urged to promote European recycling, not incinerators

Brussels, 27 November - Friends of the Earth Europe and the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) challenge members of the European Parliament to vote down an attempt to promote incineration of waste at the expense of recycling and waste prevention.

27.11.2006

Climate change must be EU leaders' top priority after UN climate conference in Nairobi

Nairobi/Brussels, 18 November 2006 - Friends of the Earth Europe today called on the European Union to urgently push the issue of climate change to the highest political level, as UN negotiations on climate change in the Kenyan capital Nairobi ended yesterday with mixed results and only modest progress on the international climate treaty, Kyoto. [1]

18.11.2006

Climate change: Kyoto moves forward despite slow pace

NAIROBI (KENYA), November 17, 2006 -- Modest agreements were reached at the United Nations climate change talks that ended here today. 165 countries discussed ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions beyond 2012 under the existing Kyoto Protocol, which is the only international legally binding treaty to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases. [1]

17.11.2006

Climate is changing but talks are slowing

Nairobi, November 15, 2006 -- The sense of urgency is missing but needed at once in Nairobi where ministers from 165 countries and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan are gathering today for the last three days of United Nations talks on climate change. [1]

15.11.2006

Green groups call for cleaner ships and engines

Cruise ships pollute. Photo: Ola Sølset, FoE Norway

Oslo, Norway - November 15, 2006– Environmental groups allied with Friends of the Earth International are pressing for ships to abandon dirty bunker fuels and cut engine emissions by 70 to 90 percent using current pollution controls during international negotiations November 13 to 17 being led by the United States.

15.11.2006

International appeal to Norway: Protect all of Trillemarka – Rollagsfjell

View from Trillemarka - Rollagsfjell. Photo: Ø. Engen, Norges Naturvernforbund/FoE Norway.

Currently the Norwegian ministry of Environment is considering whether it should protect all, or just a part of a 200 square kilometre forested area called Trillemarka - Rollagsfjell. This area is unique, contains nearly 100 red-listed species, and is one of the largest remaining natural forests in Norway. In a letter to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Jonas Gahr Støre, Friends of the Earth International’s Forest Programme urges Norway to take two types of action as soon as possible. Firstly, the entire Trillemarka – Rollagsfjell forest must be protected. Secondly Norwegian forest protection in general is deplorable and must be improved upon.

13.11.2006

New underwater power cable can prolong use of old nuclear reactors

Oleg Bodrov from Green World and Tore Braend from Friends of the Earth Norway have recently been in Helsinki and Stockholm to protest against the proposed power cable between Russia and Finland. The environmental NGOs cooperate in the decommission project “From closed rooms to openness”, together with a third NGO; Gaia Apatity Ecological Center.

24.10.2006

Outrage as illegal genetically modified rice slips through the net

Brussels, 21 September 2006 - Friends of the Earth Europe has demanded a suspension of all long grain rice imports from the United States after the European Commission admitted today that a consignment of US rice certified as GM-free was retested and found to be ontaminated. [1]

22.09.2006

EU member states reject two European Commission GMO proposals

Brussels, September 18th 2006 - Friends of the Earth Europe has called on the European Commission to respect EU member states’ wishes and refuse authorisation of a genetically modified (GM) oilseed rape. At an Agriculture Council meeting today, only a small minority of EU Farm Ministers voted in favour of importing the GM oilseed rape into the EU.[1]

19.09.2006

Petition: 1 Million Against Nuclear Power

Two decades have passed since the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. People still get seriously ill, food cannot be eaten, land cannot be used. Nevertheless, we see many attempts to revitalise nuclear power in Europe in the moment. NOW is the time to reject them loudly! Support us TODAY with your signature against nuclear power.

29.04.2006

EU “Coexistence” conference: Freedom of choice for whom?

Ill. photo: J. H. Rambjør

Friends of the Earth condemns Commission contamination policy.
Brussels, April 6th 2006 – Genetically modified (GM) crops can only be grown in Europe if contamination of organic and conventional foods are permitted, claims Friends of the Earth in a new publication. The environmental group is scathing of the European Commission who are organizing a conference on the “co-existence” of GM and non GM farming in Vienna as part of the Austrian presidency of the EU. They claim the Commission is only listening to industry whilst ignoring European law and the majority of the public.

06.04.2006

Groups call for big cuts in shipping industry air pollution

For cleaner air. Photo: K. Olerud, FoE Norway

LONDON, UK, April, 2006 – As shipping nations meet this week to consider new air pollution standards for ships, environmental and public health organizations are calling for 70 to 90 percent reductions in ship smokestack emissions to reduce premature death, cancers and respiratory ailments suffered by people living and working near ports.

05.04.2006

New Friends of the Earth Europe Director

Fouad Hamdan started early this month as Friends of the Earth Europe director, taking over from Martin Rocholl, who now chairs the Executive Committee of FoEE.

30.01.2006

Hazardous chemicals in all-weather garments

All-weather clothing contains high levels of fluorinated pollutants. This is revealed by a survey, jointly commissioned by Friends of the Earth Norway / Norges Naturvernforbund and the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation. The survey is the first of its kind, and both organisations are now urging politicians and manufacturers to take action to protect consumers.

24.01.2006

Challenged Monsanto successfully

- Last week we launched our new report “Who benefits from GM crops?” on Monsanto and its corporate GM crop revolution. One of the main objectives of the Corporate-GMO Campaigns launch was to challenge a Monsanto sponsored report produced every year by an organization called ISAAA, and to address the excessive power Monsanto has over national and international policy making in the area of GMOs. Many Friends of the Earth (FoE) groups in Africa, Europe and also in North America joined us last week to challenge Monsanto, whose GM technology is in around 90% of all GM crops commercialized worldwide, write FoE’s GMO Campaign co-ordinators.

23.01.2006

Monsanto targets Europe’s maize - 10 years of biotech crops fail to deliver benefits for cons

The public says GMOs, no thank you. Ill. photo: FoEI

Brussels (Belgium) January 10, 2006 – US-based biotech giant, Monsanto, is aiming to genetically modify all of Europe’s maize over the next 4 years, reveals a new Friends of the Earth report released today. The report also concludes that in the ten years since the introduction of genetically modified (GM) foods in Europe, the biotech industry has failed to deliver any benefits for consumers or the environment, and has not played any role in solving hunger and poverty.

10.01.2006

Global climate talks start in Montreal

Montreal (Canada): Crucial talks on future action to tackle climate change begin in Montreal on Monday 28th November as the urgent need for action becomes more apparent.

28.11.2005

Final EU offer for global trade talks: Serving big business not livelihoods and the environment

EU position will cause accelerating poverty. Ill. photo: Olav Myrholt

(Brussels/Geneva, 3 November 2005) Following the publishing of a final “EU WTO offer” last week, Friends of the Earth Europe has warned that the EU position is at the detriment of livelihoods and the environment and significantly increases the possibility of trade negotiations to collapse in the near future. The offer was made in light of stalled trade negotiations in Geneva and in the run up to the upcoming WTO Ministerial Conference in HongKong (1).

03.11.2005

Norway: Exposed Oil Companies To Stop Using Toxic Pollutant

In August Friends of the Earth Norway (FoEN) revealed that oil companies have flushed more than 80 tons of the toxic pollutant Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) from Norwegian oil rigs directly into the North Sea. The two main Norwegian oil companies Statoil and Hydro as a consequence announced on October 6 that they would remove the toxic chemical from their rigs as soon as practically possible.

24.10.2005

Montreal Clinmate talks hold key to saving the planet

	Saving the climate? Photo: Jan Helge Rambjør

Negotiations begin with informal ministerial on climate change, Ottawa 22-24 September.
Governments will meet in Montreal, Canada at the end of November for the United Nations Climate Negotiations which hold the key to future action on tackling emissions of greenhouse gases – and stabilising our fragile climate.

20.09.2005

The oil and energy sector must take responsibility

Director Tore Killingland, Friends of the Earth Norway

Friends of the Earth Norway (FoEN) urges President George W. Bush to invite his friends in the oil and energy sector to contribute to the relief work rendered to the victims of hurricane Katrina. Katrina caused havoc in several gulf states and left hundreds dead and billions of dollars of damages in its wake. -The oil and energy sector, who so generously contributed to George W. Bush's reelection, must shoulder their part of the responsibility for the consequences of climate change and contribute even more generously to hurricane relief work, said Tore Killingland, the director of FoEN. He also urged Norwegian oil companies to contribute.

01.09.2005

Oil Industry Released Tons of Toxic Pollutant

Oil rig Sleipner. Photo: Statoil

More than 80 tons of the toxic pollutant known as Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) have been flushed directly into the sea by Norwegian oil rigs between 1980 and 2005, according to the first ever estimate of the amount of this toxic pollutant discharged by Norwegian oil rigs.

16.08.2005

Postal address: Norges Naturvernforbund, Grensen 9 B, 0159 Oslo, Norway
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