News
[Highlight] ArcelorMittal responds to criticism...with spin
(July 13, 2009)
On 22nd May 2009 ArcelorMittal published a response to Global Action on ArcelorMittal’s recent report, entitled 'ArcelorMittal: Going nowhere slowly', saying that "many of the allegations found in the report are inaccurate and based on distorted facts".
Nevertheless the company has not identified which of the facts in the report it considers to be distorted. Being committed to using accurate information, GAAM asked the company to give further details, however as of 10th July 2009 no response had been received.
One of GAAM's main requests is the release of more plant-level data on the environmental and health and safety performance of ArcelorMittal’s plants. It would benefit both GAAM and the company if we were able to assess more accurately the extent to which the company’s claims stand up.
GAAM is a network of community and environmental groups from around the world, including Bankwatch, who are working to get ArcelorMittal to invest in pollution prevention and health and safety at its steel mills and coal and iron ore mines.
Read more about how GAAM reinforces its demands and counters ArcelorMittals's laments.
Nevertheless the company has not identified which of the facts in the report it considers to be distorted. Being committed to using accurate information, GAAM asked the company to give further details, however as of 10th July 2009 no response had been received.
One of GAAM's main requests is the release of more plant-level data on the environmental and health and safety performance of ArcelorMittal’s plants. It would benefit both GAAM and the company if we were able to assess more accurately the extent to which the company’s claims stand up.
GAAM is a network of community and environmental groups from around the world, including Bankwatch, who are working to get ArcelorMittal to invest in pollution prevention and health and safety at its steel mills and coal and iron ore mines.
Read more about how GAAM reinforces its demands and counters ArcelorMittals's laments.
[Press release] European Commission off target on environment say Green 10
(June 10, 2009)
The environmental record of the outgoing European Commission is worryingly off target, the 'Green 10' coalition of leading environmental organisations said today in Brussels. Environmental groups published an assessment of the Barroso Commission, giving it an overall mark of 4.4/10.
In all, the 'Green 10' report examines successes and failures in 12 policy areas that impact the environment, and sets out a checklist for the next Commission. The Green 10 blamed the low score on, among other things, a failure to reform agriculture and fisheries policies, and, more broadly, to propose sustainable economic policies. But there were some positive notes, notably in climate, energy and transport policy.
In all, the 'Green 10' report examines successes and failures in 12 policy areas that impact the environment, and sets out a checklist for the next Commission. The Green 10 blamed the low score on, among other things, a failure to reform agriculture and fisheries policies, and, more broadly, to propose sustainable economic policies. But there were some positive notes, notably in climate, energy and transport policy.
[Highlight] Putting the environment at the heart of Europe
(April 30, 2009)
The election of a new European Parliament on June 4-7 is an important moment, the Green 10 group of European environmental organisations believes, to instil a new vision of the EU in the world: an agenda not based on fear, plundering of resources and ecosystems, economic competition or political domination. This vision should be based on Europe’s principle values: peace, cooperation, integration, solidarity and respect for human rights and environmental protection.
While the challenges Europe and the world face seem at first glance divergent, Bankwatch and our Green 10 partners believe that many are, at heart, environmental. Read more here about what can be done to tackle these environmental challenges root and branch, as laid out in the Green 10's environmental roadmap for 2009-2014.
While the challenges Europe and the world face seem at first glance divergent, Bankwatch and our Green 10 partners believe that many are, at heart, environmental. Read more here about what can be done to tackle these environmental challenges root and branch, as laid out in the Green 10's environmental roadmap for 2009-2014.
[Press release] South east Europe's leaders urged to ditch oil, lignite and grasp renewables
(December 10, 2008)
Fourteen non-governmental organisations from six south east European countries have today called on regional decision-makers to stop using the Energy Community of South East Europe (ECSEE) process as a vehicle to promote climate-damaging oil and lignite projects.
In a joint letter sent ahead of a meeting of south east European energy ministers tomorrow (December 11) in Tirana, Albania, the groups have urged regional governments not to rubber stamp an indicative list of 19 priority energy generation projects for the region worth more than EUR 8 billion, as not one involves renewable energy and several are expected to have serious impacts on air quality, climate and biodiversity.
In a joint letter sent ahead of a meeting of south east European energy ministers tomorrow (December 11) in Tirana, Albania, the groups have urged regional governments not to rubber stamp an indicative list of 19 priority energy generation projects for the region worth more than EUR 8 billion, as not one involves renewable energy and several are expected to have serious impacts on air quality, climate and biodiversity.
