[ssf] [Fwd: Fw: Recent news from GP]

[Chris Malins]

Greenpeace Business Lecture 25/01/05 - Chair of Shell speaks
> Shell Chair urges government to act now on climate change
>
> London - 27th January, 2005. Warning against the “angry beast” of climate 
> change, Lord Ron Oxburgh, Chairman of the UK arm of Shell, this week 
> called for more determined government action to limit emissions of CO2 
> into the atmosphere.
>
> Delivering the fourth Greenpeace Business Lecture on 25 January, Lord 
> Oxburgh said that the Shell Group has nothing to fear from the taxation 
> and regulatory changes that are needed to avoid the potentially disastrous 
> consequences of climate change.
>
> He said, “Governments in developed countries need to introduce taxes, 
> regulations or plans such as the European Union carbon trading scheme to 
> increase the cost of emitting carbon dioxide.”
>
> This is the only way that technologies such as bio-fuel, carbon 
> sequestration, the use of hydrogen as a fuel and wave, tidal, wind and 
> solar power would displace the use of oil, coal and gas. “None of this is 
> going to happen if the market is left to itself,” Lord Oxburgh said.
>
> In his 50 minute address, Lord Oxburgh outlined Shell’s strategy for 
> coping with tougher laws and taxes on using oil and gas by gaining 
> expertise in the various environmentally-friendly technologies that may 
> play a role in meeting future energy needs.
>
> He focused on the need for more research into marine renewables – 
> particularly wave and tidal power which he said were “under researched and 
> under resourced” and into better ways of storing renewable energy. He also 
> highlighted the important role that biofuels and biomass could play in 
> producing energy for transport, electricity and heating.
>
> On transport he said that in addition to biofuels, hybrid cars were a cost 
> and fuel-efficient way of bridging the gap into a possible future energy 
> economy based on hydrogen. Further he acknowledged the need for aviation 
> growth to be curbed, either by bringing it into the emissions trading 
> scheme or instituting an aviation tax.
>
> Lord Oxburgh also said that the highest priority in the western world is 
> to find ways for emerging countries to meet their energy needs in a clean 
> way. None of the emerging industrial giants of the future – Russia, 
> Brazil, India and China – will accept a lower standard of living, and 
> history has shown that as countries become more prosperous their demand 
> for energy increases. According to Lord Oxburgh, we need to work with them 
> to help them leapfrog existing polluting technologies.
>
> Lord Oxburgh then responded to an hour of questions ranging from the role 
> of Shell in a changing world, to solving China’s growing energy needs.
>
> During the question session, Lord Oxburgh revealed the practical dilemmas 
> of the third largest oil company in the world. Shell is in the energy 
> business and must “stick to their knitting”. “It is our job to explore new 
> technologies” and once again he hammered home the message that the future 
> will be determined by government action.
>
> On emissions trading schemes, Lord Oxburgh felt it would be significant, 
> but would take three to four years to develop market confidence in the 
> scheme and get the bureaucracy right.
>
> Responding to a question on Shell’s lobbying activities, Lord Oxburgh 
> stated: “There is no shortage of information and suggestions on how we can 
> halt climate change and we are working on a range of government advisory 
> committees. But there is a shortage of determination to act by 
>  government.”
>
> On the morning of the Lecture, Greenpeace Executive Director Stephen 
> Tindale and other NGOs met with UK Prime Minister Tony Blair to discuss 
> climate under his G8 and EU Presidency. Stephen Tindale called on Mr Blair 
> to distance himself from Mr Bush: “Blair has to stop kow-towing to big 
> business and the Bush administration and announce some concrete measures 
> to cut emissions. Only some real action will restore faith in his 
> willingness to tackle this global crisis.”
>
>