In the face of the global economic downturn and the climate crisis, a brilliant new idea is taking hold: green recovery. From China's Hu Jintao to Obama in the U.S., leaders are realizing that a green recovery -- investing in renewable fuels, efficiency, and new technology -- is the best way to create jobs and save the planet at the same time.
But at a summit this weekend, European leaders may miss their chance -- unless enough of us speak up now.
Some European politicians, influenced by special interests, are stuck in the discarded view that helping the economy must hurt the climate, and vice versa. If this mindset wins out, vast sums will be spent on ruinously dirty growth, putting the entire world in peril. But if we raise our voices now, we can help tip the balance towards a cleaner, greener economy that works for us all.
Click below to send a message to European leaders, urging them to commit to a green recovery plan:
http://cdn.avaaz.org/en/europe_green_recovery
Green recovery isn't a dream -- it's already begun. The U.S. has committed to invest almost 1% of its economic output in sustainable recovery programmes. China is racing ahead, putting over a third of its big stimulus package into green investments, while South Korea investing two-thirds of its package in energy efficiency, green jobs, public transport and renewable energy.
The global race to a greener, cleaner future could begin here. But if we fail to switch to clean energy now, any economic recovery risks ending up being crippled by a new oil price spike in a couple of years.
Much more than Europe is at stake. Next April, the 20 biggest economies will gather in London to hash global plans for a coordinated response to the economic downturn. By taking action now, we can put sustainable recovery at the heart of their economic agenda, and set world leaders on the road to a climate deal this December in Copenhagen.
If enough of us write to our leaders now, we can show them that the public rejects the false choice between today's economy and tomorrow's climate. Follow this link now to urge Europe to embrace a green New Deal that creates the jobs of the future, ends our addiction to climate-poisoning fossil fuels, and lays the foundations of a sustainable economic recovery:
http://cdn.avaaz.org/en/europe_green_recovery
With hope,
Ben, Luis, Iain, Ricken, Paul, Alice, Brett, Paula, Graziela, Milena, Pascal, Veronique -- and the rest of the Avaaz team
More information on green economic recoveries:
Great clean-up - can economic rescue plans also save planet? -- The Guardian, 24 Feb 2009http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/feb/24/obama-environment-economic-rescue
Nicholas Stern: An outline of the case for a 'green' Stimulus - London School of Economics, Feb 2009http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/granthamInstitute/publications/An%20outline%20of%20the%20case%20for%20a%20%27green%27%20stimulus.pdf
United Nations Environmental Programme special Green New Deal site:http://www.unep.org/greeneconomy
Ban Ki Moon and Al Gore: Green Growth is Essential to any Stimulus - Financial Times, 16 Feb 2009
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0fa98852-fc45-11dd-aed8-000077b07658.html
Green or Mean -- graphic of comparing the green impact of national economic stimulus plans:
http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Guardian/documents/2009/02/23/ENVIRONMENTweb.pdf
Visit here for the agenda of the meeting:http://www.eu2009.cz/event/1/3153/
Fwd by
John Willemsens,
Advayavada Foundation.
<http://www.euronet.nl/~advaya/index.htm>
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