Media Reaction: Leading Environmental Groups respond to the climate change
and energy aspects of Toronto G20 communiqué

TORONTO, June 27 /CNW Telbec/ - "As BP's oil disaster continues to wreak havoc in the Gulf, the G20's first step to reduce fossil fuel subsidies is the right move to make. But unfortunately in Toronto, I am not seeing the visionary leadership that would shift those resources to developing a new clean energy economy."

- Phil Radford, Greenpeace US (202.907.6500)

"The Canadian finance minister's officials told Jim Flaherty we could phase out fossil fuel subsidies. It would be good for the economy, the environment and could enable Canada to pay its fair share to developing countries to help them cope with climate change. Unfortunately, the Harper government has decided yet again to side with the fossil fuel lobby."

- Steven Guilbeault, Equiterre (514.378.0232)

"The greenest thing about the G20 is its ability to reuse and recycle earlier commitments. This summit could have been the beginning of real action towards a clean, efficient and resilient economy but all we got is some nice words about green economy and a recycled statement on fossil fuel subsidies."

- Kim Carstensen, WWF Global Climate Initiative (647.328.5518 or [phone])

"For months, Stephen Harper has been downplaying the importance of climate change, dismissing it as a 'sideshow' to his G20 agenda. That lack of leadership from the chair helps to explain why this year's G20 did little more than tread water on climate and energy, barely moving forward since their last meeting."

- Clare Demerse, The Pembina Institute (613.762.7449)

"As climate change continues to gather pace, it's the poorest and most vulnerable that are bearing the real costs. The G20 needs to get serious. The best thing leaders can do is agree on a tax on banks able to raise the money needed to help poor countries cope. This needs to be top of the agenda when they meet again in South Korea." - Robert Bailey, Oxfam International ([phone])

For further information: For further media inquiries: Hannah McKinnon, [email protected], 613.276.7791