GAIA Questions Nomination of New Climate Action Commissioner

Press release:

In view of the hearing taking place Friday 15/01/2010 09:00 in the European Parliament

GAIA warns about the nomination of Connie Hedegaard as EU commissioner for climate action because of her support to a dirty technology such as incineration. When compared the emissions of an incinerator produce more CO2 [1] than a gas or coal power plant.

GAIA denounces that while incineration and landfill gas projects are being approved for funding under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in several developing countries, which is causing many recyclers to see their livelihoods threatened, the European Union wants to appoint as its representative for climate talks a promoter of waste incineration [2].

"It is not good for the credibility of the EU that its visible face in climate negotiations is a promoter of false solutions to fight climate change. Incineration destroys resources and promotes the throw-away society, yet the incinerator industry is trying to repackage itself as a “climate solution” in order to grab climate subsidies meant to support the development of clean technologies.” said Joan-Marc Simon, coordinator of GAIA in Europe.

One example of this reality is in Indonesia: The organisation Balifokus is known for their efforts to establish a worker-owned cooperative of informal sector recyclers that creates jobs and provides dignity and economic security. Yet the CDM awarded carbon credits to an incinerator and landfill gas project that would undermine these efforts. If the project were to be implemented in full, it would not only increase GHG emissions and toxic pollution, but also displace the livelihoods of some of Bali’s most vulnerable workers. Luckily the mobilisation of the locals stopped this project but there are 300 more in the CDM pipeline for only 32 composting projects and no recycling project at all.

From a climate point of view: Recycling in developing countries is up to 30 times more effective at reducing emissions than incineration [3].
>From a social point of view: Recycling provides employment to approximately 15 million people worldwide [4].

From an energy efficiency point of view: incineration is less than 25% efficient when producing electricity [5].

From a common sense point of view: burning resources in a world of scarcity doesn’t make any sense.

“GAIA strongly advices MEPs to demand Ms Hedegaard to commit to the promotion of waste prevention, recycling and reuse in climate negotiations instead of incineration.” concluded Simon.

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Press contact:

JM Simon +32 486832576

GAIA is a worldwide alliance of more than 600 grassroots organizations and individuals in 88 countries, whose ultimate vision is a just,
toxic-free world without incineration.

www.no-burn.org

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References:

[1] “A Changing Climate for Energy from Waste?”, Dominic Hogg (2008)
[2]  Danish-Malaysian Energy & Environmental Forum, Kuala Lumpur, 24-26 January 2007
http://www.ambkualalumpur.um.dk/NR/rdonlyres/AEC774E3-6C38-48CE-B97B-5423889CD121/0/250107MalaysiaBusinessenvminspeech.pdf

[3] According to a recent study “Cooling Agents” by Chintan, a New Delhi-based NGO.
[4] According to the World Bank.
[5] Murphy, J.D. and E. McKeogh (2004). “Technical, economic and environmental analysis of energy production from municipal solid waste”. Renewable Energy 29 (7): 1043-1057.

http://www.inclusivecities.org/pdfs/Respect_for_Wastepickers.pdf
http://no-burn.org/downloads/GAIA_CDMFactsheet.pdf
http://no-burn.org/downloads/GAIA_CDM_flyer_web.pdf
http://no-burn.org/downloads/GAIA_Flier_trim.pdf




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