Friends of the Earth Europe Annual Review 2009

8/8/2019 Friends of the Earth Europe Annual Review 2009

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Friends of the Earth EuropeANNUAL REVIEW

2009for the people | for the planet | for the future


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Friends of the Earth Europe Board 2009-10 Mike Childs, Friends of the Earth EWNI Chair; Istvn Farkas, Friends of the EarthHungary Programme oversight; Hester Schoute, Friends of the Earth Netherlands Treasurer; Martin Galea De Giovanni,Friends of the Earth Malta Secretary; Olaf Bandt, Friends of the Earth Germany Programme oversight

Who we are

* The European arm of Friends of the Earth International, the worlds largest grassroots environmental network * theEuropean networks representative at the heart of the European Union campaigning for sustainable solutions to benefitthe planet, people and our future, influencing European and EU policy and raising public awareness on environmental

issues * the largest grassroots environmental network in Europe uniting national member organisations and thousandsof local activist groups in more than 30 European countries * the peoples voice at the heart of the European Union.

Friends of the Earth Europe staff, Belgium, 2009

Cover image Christoffer Askman/FoEI page 2 FoEE page 3 Anja Leetz

p3 Welcomep4 Campaign highlights

p8 Copenhagen and the flood for climate justicep10 Network highlightsp12 Publicationsp13 The 40% studyp14 Financial informationp15 Our work in 2010

Contents


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Friends of the Earth Europe ANNUAL REVIEW 2009 | 3

Welcome

Glancing back at our activities in 2009 I have to concludethat it was an extremely intense year of expectations,changes and challenges. These culminated in an

incredible mobilisation of citizens in Denmark inDecember to ask world leaders at the UN climatesummit to save our climate, and the year ended withdisbelief, frustration and disappointment when they didnot rise to this challenge.

Recognising that the only constant thing is change,2009 proved to be especially full of changes. EuropeanParliament elections in June resulted in a shift to theright and an increase in Euro-scepticism which poses achallenge to the environmental agenda. After several

months of delay and much uncertainty the newEuropean Lisbon Treaty was finally approved. The treatybrings significant changes to the European Unionsstructure and its impact on the functioning of the EUand European decision-making is still to be fullyassessed and understood. 2009 also saw changes in theEuropean Commission where a new cabinet took officeunder the same President Barosso I became Barosso II.It remains to be seen how new and reshuffledcommissioners will handle their given portfolios andhow environmentally sensitive they will prove to be.

Friends of the Earth Europe also witnessed numerousdevelopments in 2009. With the adoption of our firststrategic plan we established a new framework for ouractivities aimed at challenging over-consumption,including its European and global impacts, andchampioning environmental justice. The work of thenetwork is now structured in five programmes; climatejustice and energy; economic justice; food, agricultureand biodiversity; network development, and resourcesand consumption, as well as our campaign for

sustainable EU funds, bringing greater cohesion anddirection to our work. The office also changed physically

when we moved to new premises in Mundo B anenvironmentally-friendly house developed by EthicalProperty. The building and our fellow residents share our

sustainable values and Mundo B has become a specialplace in Brussels where we feel very much at home.

While the results of the Copenhagen climate talks werehighly unsatisfactory, Friends of the Earth Europe, aspart of our international federation had a strongpresence with our demands for climate justice. Oneafter another, groups of activists brought toCopenhagen by our member organisations acrossEurope, joined together to form a five thousand stronghuman flood for climate justice, showing the incredible

strength of the network.Our ability to mobilise people was also visible when tenthousand people danced Bollywood-style for the climateon the beach in Ostend, Belgium for a film for our BigAsk campaign, and when four thousand peopleflooded the Finnish parliament calling for a climate lawin the biggest environmental gathering in the history ofthe country. Four countries enjoyed performances on theEnergy Union tour which combined climate andrenewable energy messages with music from UK group

Coldcut into a multimedia show. Young Friends of theEarth continued to grow stronger and its actions and youth mobilisation confronted European leaders forplaying with their future. And all this only in the area ofclimate, not mentioning other activities on GMOs, foodand agrofuels, challenging corporate power, lobbytransparency and trade.

I hope that the following pages succeed in transmittingsome of the inspirational moments and intenseemotion we experienced in 2009. No doubt change will

remain a constant which we will continue to deal within 2010, and hopefully our work will prove we can be thechange we want to see in the world.

Magda Stoczkiewicz

Director, Friends of the Earth Europe

Brussels, April 2010


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4 | Friends of the Earth Europe ANNUAL REVIEW 2009

Young activists first summercamp Young Friends of theEarth Europe co-hosted thefirst ever summer camp withFriends of the Earth Croatiaon olta Island in the Adriatic.The camp brought together70 young people from 24different countries and was

the first step towards linkingEuropean and internationalYoung Friends of the Earthgroups. Youth activists fromIndonesia, Argentina andSouth Africa joined for aweek of training, networkingand future campaign andaction planning.

The Croatian Times quotesYoung Friends of the Earthcoordinator Sophie Manson

Its necessary for young people

to be involved in the makingof climate policy because theywill feel the results of such

policy the most in the future

Mobilising young activistsfor Copenhagen YoungFriends of the Earth heldfour regional conferences inMalm, Montpellier, Berlinand Dublin bringingtogether nearly 200 youngpeople for training andaction workshops in the run-

up to global climate talks inCopenhagen. In Irelandyoung activists met theMinister for theEnvironment and the headof delegation and in Francespent two days withpeasant farmer activistsfrom Argentina. Youngpeople throughout thenetwork developed andorganised their own actionsand events in the build-up to

Copenhagen, and producedand distributed hundreds ofactivists handbooks withideas and messages forpromoting climate justice.

24 differentnationalities attendedthe Young Friends of theEarth Europe summercamp in Croatia

200young people weretrained in the run-upto global climate talks

in Copenhagen

Building capacitythroughout the networkKolga is the name of ourambitious two-year capacitybuilding project. In 2009 tworesidential training seminarsbrought together groupsfrom the Baltic region

Finland, Denmark, Swedenand Poland and supportingpartners from Friends of theEarth England, Wales andNorthern Ireland, Germany,the Netherlands andSwitzerland. The first trainingseminar focussed on effectiveorganisational structures,governance and democracy,strategic and operationalplanning, organisationalculture, leadership andmanaging change.

Building stronger membergroups Participants in ourKolga capacity buildingproject met for a secondtime to undertake trainingon concrete tactical skills inareas including voluntaryactivism, fundraising, andcommunications. A total of

nine specialists from thefour supporting groupsprovided tailored traininginputs and intensive supportto the Baltic groups to helpthem identify obstacles andopportunities fororganisational developmentand plan next steps towardsbecoming stronger andmore effective.

Taking climate justice to the streets with YoungFriends of the Earth

>

Building on our strengths

Youth activists calling for climate justice in Bonn

FoEE

FoEE

In 2009 we continued to work for environmental and social justice in Europe and around theglobe through our activities on issues including climate change, agrofuels, geneticallymodified crops, corporate accountability, EU funds and extractive industries. Through ourprojects we were able to strengthen our network enabling us to better campaign for theinterests of people and the planet on behalf of our grassroots membership. Here arehighlights of just some of our activities in 2009.

Campaign highlights


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Proving 40% cuts in Europesemissions by 2020 arepossible Our research inpartnership with StockholmEnvironment Instituteproved for the first time thatat least 40% domesticemissions cuts in Europe are

possible by 2020. Thegroundbreaking studydescribes a detailed pathwayfor Europe to cut domesticemissions by at least 40% in2020, and by 90% in 2050,compared to 1990 levels,and acts as an importanttool for future climatecampaigning in our network.

Reuters quotes Friends of theEarth campaigner Sonja Meister

Its not just about investment,its also about lifestyle changes

Breaking free from thestranglehold of the financialsector The report A captiveCommission highlightedthat the vast majority offinancial experts advisingthe European Commissionrepresent the banks andinvestors responsible for the

global economic crisis. Withour partners in the Alliancefor Lobbying Transparencyand Ethics Regulation (ALTER-EU) we continue to urge theCommission to break freefrom these advisors in orderto seriously reform the failedfinancial system.

Unearthing the facts aboutSouth Africas biggest steelmill Friends of the Earthcampaigners, as part of the

European Coalition forCorporate Justice, alongsideEuropean journalists, gainedfirst-hand experience of thesocial and environmentalimpacts of the global steelgiant ArcelorMittal at its steelmill in Vanderbijlpark, SouthAfrica. The group metcommunity spokespersons,farmers, workers and ex-workers, unionists and

ArcelorMittal representativesand heard a story of humanrights abuses andenvironmental and socialinjustice. As part of thecoalition we are campaigningfor reform of European law sovictims of corporate abusecan seek justice in Europeancourts and so that Europeanparent companies can beheld liable for the behaviourof their subsidiaries aroundthe world.

Highlighting the dangers ofEU biofuel policy Biofuels -Handle with care, ananalysis of EU biofuel policy,highlighted the failure of EUlaw to account for theenvironmental impact ofindirect land use changewhen calculating the

greenhouse gas benefits ofbiofuels, meaning there is asubstantial risk that currentEU biofuel policy will causemore harm than good. Weurged decision-makers toaddress the risks tobiodiversity and tovulnerable communities insome of the poorest regionsof the world.

Revealing the truth aboutEuropes factory farmsWorking together with Foodand Water Watch and theEuropean Coordination ViaCampesina we produced a filmrevealing the hidden chain ofdestruction stretching fromfactory farms in Europe to the

forests of South Americawhere huge soy plantationsare devastating communities,destroying wildlife andworsening the effects ofclimate change. Killing Fields,the battle to feed factoryfarms, available in 12 differentlanguages, challenges the EUto reduce its dependence onimports of soy if it is seriousabout addressing climatechange, the global loss ofbiodiversity, human rights, andthe food crisis.www.feedingfactory farms.org

The Ecologist on the film Killing Fields

Much of the cheap meat anddairy produce sold insupermarkets across Europe isarriving as a result of serioushuman rights abuses andenvironmental damage in oneof Latin Americas mostimpoverished countries,according to new film

Reviewing the Commission Aspart of the Green 10 coalitionof leading environmentalorganisations in Brussels wereviewed the outgoingEuropean Commission andfound its environmentalrecord to be worryingly offtarget. We examined the

Commissions successes andfailures in 12 policy areas thatimpact the environment, andset out a checklist for theincoming Commission.

10 companies exposedfor their lobbying to

undermine effectiveaction on climatechange in the AngryMermaid Award

Naming and shaming theworst corporate climatelobbyists The winner of theAngry Mermaid Award forthe worst corporate climatelobbyist was announced byaward-winning writer and

journalist Naomi Klein at theUN climate talks inCopenhagen. The biotechgiant Monsanto, with 37% ofthe total vote, took first prizefor promoting its geneticallymodified crops as a solutionto climate change.

The Telegraph quotes Naomi Kleinon the Angry Mermaid Award

Lobbyists love anonymity.What we are trying to do isdrag them out of the shadowsinto the light

55 environmentallydestructive andeconomically unsoundinfrastructure projectsin central and easternEurope revealed onour new map

Mapping the destructive

potential of EU billionsIn coalition with CEEBankwatch Network, welaunched a new map of 55environmentally destructiveand economically unsoundinfrastructure projects in theten new member states ofcentral and eastern Europe,worth a total of 23 billion.Our EU funds campaigncontinues to call for smarter,

more effective and moretransparent use of publicmoney to deliver long-term

jobs and environmentaladded-value.

Making a case

Demanding strong domestic action and an endto offsetting

FoEE

Calling for a more transparent response to the global economic crisis

FoEE


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Debating climate changein Parliament We organiseda preview screening of theclimate change film The Ageof Stupid in the EuropeanParliament before its officialrelease. It was a uniqueopportunity to screen apowerful film on the

consequences of climatechange to the public and wasfollowed by a debate with thefilms director FrannyArmstrong, MEP CarolineLucas and our director,Magda Stoczkiewicz.

More than 350 MEPcandidates pledged towork for a EuropeanUnion that puts publicinterests before privateprofits, after beingcontacted by votersthrough our Pin down

your candidate initiative

Questioning prospective

MEPs More than 350candidates standing in JunesEuropean Parliamentelections, 70 of whom wereelected, pledged to work for aEuropean Union that putspublic interests before privateprofits. Citizens from all 27 EUmember states askedcandidates to commit to workfor lobbying transparency, bigbusiness accountability, a justEU trade policy, and financialmarket regulation.

European Parliament hearstruth about extractiveindustriesOur ExtractiveIndustries: Blessing or Curse?conference brought theenvironmental and socialimpacts of the oil and gasindustry to the EuropeanParliament. With case studies

including Canada oil sandsand European oil and gasoperations in Nigeria andRussia, and discussions onhow to reduce the industrysemissions and improve itsperformance in relation topoverty eradication andenvironmental impacts, theconference brought togetherrepresentatives of civil societyfrom European anddeveloping countries including

communities affected by theindustry operations, theEuropean Commission, theEuropean Parliament, industryand the media.

Climate-proofing EUStructural and CohesionFunds The joint Friends ofthe Earth Europe and CEEBankwatch NetworkClimate Proofing EU

Structural and CohesionFunds conference dealtwith how climate changefits into important decisionson the future of cohesionpolicy and the EU budgetreview that will be taken inthe next three years at EUlevel. The conferenceengaged members of theEuropean Parliament, EUofficials, national and

regional governments, civilsociety and the media inconstructive discussionsabout the climate impact ofEU funds programmes andprojects. It exploredopportunities for de-carbonisation in thetransport and energy sectorsand discussed the kind ofcohesion policy needed inorder to deliver low carbondevelopment in theEuropean regions.

Rejecting unwanted adviceon the financial crisis Ourreport Would You Bank onThem? examined the trackrecords of members of theEUs High Level Group offinancial wise menresponsible for helping toframe Europes response to

the meltdown in the financialsector. As the group met,activists dressed as sheriffswith unwanted postersgathered outside theEuropean Commission inprotest at advice on handlingthe financial crisis being givenby the bankers who caused it.

The Parliament Magazine quotesFriends of the Earth campaignerPaul de Clerck

Most of these guys have acted

like cowboys. The commissionshould not rely on a groupwith such close ties to the

financial industry

Pushing for strong energyefficiency measures A

penguin refugee camp ofnon-energy efficientappliances was erectedoutside the EuropeanCommission by activistsfrom Friends of the Earth.The stunt called onEuropean decision-makersto stop caving in to industrypressure and to strengthenenergy efficiency proposalsso that Europe can meet itsenvironmental and climatechange targets.

Working withdecision-makers

Exposing biotech industrymisinformation Coinciding

with the release of annualindustry-sponsored figureson genetically modifiedcrops, our report Whobenefits from GM crops?revealed the failure of GMcrops around the world andexposed inconsistencies inEuropean biotech lobbygroup EuropaBios reporting.We revealed that the groupinflated the figures byalmost a quarter to maskan actual decline.

Demonstrating that the WTOcan allow climate measuresWith the release of our legalanalysis Is the World TradeOrganisation blockingprogress in the fight againstclimate change? wedemonstrated that WTO rulesprovide adequate flexibility for

national policy makers to takebold and necessary measuresto tackle climate change.Claims from politicians thatthe WTO prevents them fromtaking market unfriendlymeasures were shown to beunfounded, putting pressureon politicians and policy-makers to step up to theclimate change challenge.

LodeSaidane

Refugee penguins calling for strong energyefficiency measures, Brussels

Rejecting unwanted financial advice outside theEuropean Commission

FoEE

Young activists calling on the EU to up itsemission targets

FoEE


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Over-consumingthe worlds resources?Our Overconsumption?report questioned Europesconsumption of increasingquantities of the worldsnatural resources. Launchedat the World Resources Forum

in Davos, Switzerland ourresearch showed that Europeis more dependent onimported resources thanother global regions. We alsopublished research examiningpossible methods ofmeasuring Europes resourceuse and proposes four keyaspects to cover: material use,land use, water use andgreenhouse gas emissions including the resources weuse outside Europe.

Calling the EUs bluffon free trade Producedtogether with Friends ofthe Earth Latin Americaand Caribbean our reportCalling the EUs bluffquestioned the EUs rolein negotiating free tradeagreements. Our work

during 2009 called for anend to the process of freetrade negotiationspromoted by the EU inCentral America, andrecommended a fullreconsideration by the EUof its role in the region.

Empowering young people

to Act Now The Act Nowproject, run jointly by YoungFriends of the Earth Europeand Young Friends of theEarth Germany, began bybringing together 40 youngpeople from 15 countries forfive days of training andhands-on action at the JuneUnited Nations climatemeeting in Bonn, Germany.Participants learned about

the UN processes, ways oftaking action to influencedecision-makers andpromote climate justice, andhow to educate and mobilise

young people. Young activistshad the chance to put theirnew skills into practice whenthey demanded thatinternational leaders do theirhomework, and questioneddelegates on the work theywere doing nationally toachieve climate justice.

Driving the change Wepushed for improvedimplementation and therevision of the car C02labelling directive, to betterenable consumers to choosefuel-efficient cars. Our vox-pops video opinion pollsproduced in Belgium, the UK,

Spain, Germany and Italyproved that new efficiencylabels would be much easierto understand than currentadvertisements. Alongside aviral video promoting carefficiency labels we gatheredbroader public support forenergy labelling for cars,bringing togetherinformation about ongoingcampaign activities on a newwebsite

www.drivingthechange.eu

Music tour promotessustainable energyThe Energy Union Tour,promoting the sensible useof energy and sustainableenergy production, began inMunich and toured duringthe summer through Pcs,Vienna, Budapest, Koice,Bratislava, and Graz before

finishing in Berlin. Theinteractive tour withaudiovisual artists andmusicians Coldcut, travelledby train, taking the toursmessage of intelligent energyto people around Europe.Working in close partnershipwith local Friends of theEarth groups the tourpromoted our Big Askcampaign for legally bindingemissions cuts. The tourcontinues in 2010.

Spanish maize seeks asylumActivists dressed as Spanishmaize fled to the FrenchEmbassy in Madrid fearingcontamination fromgenetically modified maizevarieties, the majority ofwhich is grown in Spain.Our stunt raised awareness

of the cultivation ofMonsantos MON810 inEurope. This GM maize isbanned in France but grownin Spain with littleprecaution taken againstcross-contamination.

Financial Times quotes Friends ofthe Earth campaigner Helen Holder

European countries will not bebullied into taking unsounddecisions regarding theirenvironment, their farming

and their citizens health

916,000 people visitedthe Friends of the EarthEurope website www.foeeurope.org throughout the year tofind out more aboutour work

Empowering action

Empowering youth activists to Act Now

FoEE

Pinning down MEPs in Brussels to put peoplebefore profit

FoEE

Promoting intelligent energy throughout Centraland Eastern Europe on the Energy Union tour

JasmineSchuller

FoESpain

Spanish maize seeking asylum in protest againstGMOs in Spain


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Copenhagen and the flood for climate justice

FoEI

Young Friends of the Earth and Friends of the EarthInternational making a stand with Africa

FoEE

Calling the EU to up its emissionreduction targets to 40%

FoEI

Naomi Klein announcing the winnerof the Angry Mermaid Award Monsanto

It is amazing to see so many people from around the worldcoming together to form a flood of public opinionto demand climate justice in Copenhagen

Palle Bendsen, Friends of the Earth Denmark

Friends of the Earth took an ambitious set of demandsfor decision-makers to the UN climate conference COP-15,backed by thousands of our activists and supporters whotook to the streets of Copenhagen, or participated online,to demand climate justice. The results of the Copenhagenclimate talks were highly unsatisfactory, but during those

two weeks, Friends of the Earth Europe, as part of ourinternational federation, demonstrated and built uponthe incredible unity and strength of our network and putclimate justice firmly on the international political agenda.

AFP quotes Friends of the Earth campaigner Susann Scherbarth

Its a question of justice, we must cut carbon emissionsat home instead of buying carbon credits elsewhere


Flood for Climate Justice More than 5,000 people from overtwenty different national groups joined Friends of the EarthInternationals Flood for climate justice on the streets ofCopenhagen to demand climate justice. The spectacular, blue-coloured crowd flooded through the streets of Copenhagen witha clear climate justice message to decision makers. The floodbrought many groups together for the first time, increasingpublic pressure, and inspiring thousands of activists to continuethe struggle for climate justice a testimony to the uniquediversity and strength of the Friends of the Earth network.

Naming and shaming with the Angry Mermaid The winner ofthe Angry Mermaid Award for the worst corporate climatelobbyist was announced by award-winning writer and

journalist Naomi Klein to a packed conference centre.

The biotech giant Monsanto, with 37% of the total vote, tookfirst prize for promoting its genetically modified crops as asolution to climate change.

Young Friends of the Earth in Copenhagen Youth activistsspent an intensive two weeks working closely with Friendsof the Earth International and other international youthgroups, running workshops on youth activism for climate

justice and policy briefings from a youth perspective. Youngpeople ran highly visible daily actions including a Stand withAfrica protest.

EU told to Up your targets: While EU Heads of State werediscussing Europes emission reduction target in Brussels, activistsprotested both inside and outside the climate conference inCopenhagen, backed by the release of our 40% study.


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Thousands flood the streets of Copenhagen demanding climate justice Christoffer Askman/FoEI



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Campaigning with and for people across EuropeHighlights of our member groups achievements in 2009

Belgium: 10,000 dance for the climate Ten thousand peoplemet on Ostend beach to dance for the climate for the Big AskAgain video, organised by Friends of the Earth Belgium and theBelgian climate coalition. Directed by Flemish film-maker NicBalthazar, the film was used to help mobilisation efforts for theUN climate talks in Copenhagen, and was shown to delegatestravelling on the specially-chartered Climate Express train.

France: Pinocchio prize for worst French companies Some ofthe worst French companies were awarded the Pinocchio Prizefor sustainable development in a public ceremony. Among themany nominees three companies came out on top: French

investment and industrial holding group Bollor in the humanrights category; oil giant Total in the environment category andenergy company EDF in the greenwashing category.

Germany: Achieving a ban on MON810 GM corn Working in closealliance with farmers, consumers and citizen groups, Friends ofthe Earth Germany played a key role in applying pressure onGerman politicians to ban the cultivation of Monsantosgenetically engineered corn MON810. The decision madeGermany the sixth EU member state to approve a ban. More than29,000 farmers in more than 190 GMO-free regions and 200municipalities are united as part of the GMO-free regions projectpromoted and coordinated by Friends of the Earth Germany.

Norway: Contributing to the new Nature Diversity Act Friendsof the Earth Norway celebrated its 95th anniversary and alsothe adoption of the new Nature Diversity Act. Friends of theEarth Norway has been working to strengthen the Norwegianlegal system ever since 1914 and has contributed actively tothe development of the new Act which will be a very strongtool to secure Norways natural environment and protect itsbiodiversity in the future.

Poland: Questioning politicians Friends of the Earth Polandconducted a poll of Polish MPs to assess their opinions on climatechange and energy policies, and simultaneously raise awareness

of these problems. 76% of respondents believed that reducingemissions will require changing Polish energy policy, with amajority believing that the development of renewable energysources is essential. But theres still work to be done, with nuclearand coal featuring on some politicians list of climate solutions.

Spain: Demonstrating against GMOs Friends of the EarthSpain participated in and helped organise the largest anti-GMO demonstration ever seen in Europe, with over 8,000participants, in Aragn, Spains largest cultivating region forgenetically modified crops. By increasing public pressure onthe Spanish government, they sent a clear message thatSpanish citizens reject GM cultivation.

Switzerland: Celebrating 100 years Friends of the EarthSwitzerland celebrated 100 years of activity with various publicevents and activities throughout 2009, including the publicationof an international prize-winning book. The anniversary year

culminated at a gathering of 450 guests, where the SwissMinister of Environment noted the importance of the valuescarried by Friends of the Earth Switzerland. Director Otto Sieberemphasised their role as incorruptible sentinel towards boththe state and the economic sector.

Ukraine: Preserving urban green-space Following four yearsof campaigning, negotiating and demonstrating from Friendsof the Earth Ukraine, working closely with the localcommunity, the decision to build a shopping centre in a greenrecreation zone in one of the biggest industrial Ukrainiancities, Dnipropetrovsk, was overturned. Friends of the EarthUkraine provided the local community with juridical

information on how to defend their rights and freedoms,helping local residents reverse the local councils decision, andsaving the rare urban green-space for the local community.

Scotland: Groundbreaking Climate Change Bill Members ofthe Scottish Parliament voted for a target to reducegreenhouse gases by 42% by 2020 the most ambitiousstatutory target in the world following overwhelmingsupport for early action to cut emissions from scientists,Scottish celebrities and Friends of the Earth campaigners whotravelled to the Parliament in Edinburgh to lobby their MSPs.

Spain: Removing plastic bags from Spain The Spanish

government promised to reduce the usage of plastic bags by50% following a campaign from Friends of the Earth Spainthat worked with local businesses in Galicia, Sevilla, Mallorcaand Eivissa to promote reusable cotton bags.

FoEScotland

Calling for a climate law in Scotland

HectorPistache/FoESpain

Touring in Belgium with stories from the frontline of climate change

SachaLenormand

Awarding the Pinocchio Prizefor environmentally andsocially damaging companiesin France


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Young Friends of the Earth Netherlands: Collecting SOSmessages Young Friends of the Earth Netherlands collected3,000 messages from the public about their opinion on theirgovernments action on climate change. They created a beachwhere the washed up SOS messages, in 3,000 recycled plasticbottles, could be read, and where young activists delivered themessages in person to the Dutch minister for the environment.

Belgium, Spain and Austria: Touring with climate changewitnesses Beginning in Flanders, the Climaxi tour, broughtstories from the frontline of climate change, with speakersfrom Kiribati in the South Pacific, where rising sea levels are

already a serious problem, and Brazil, where indigenouspeoples in the Amazon are struggling against both rising waterlevels and the expansion of mining activities. During the tour,which travelled through Spain and Austria, these internationalstories interweaved with stories from closer to home,spreading the message of climate justice around Europe.

Ireland: Moving closer to a climate law After hard campaigningfrom Friends of the Earth Ireland and the Stop Climate Chaoscoalition, the Irish government agreed to pass a climate law.Campaigning will continue to address some of the keyweaknesses of the draft and mobilising activists to ask theirMPs for a strong climate law.

Finland: The biggest climate demo in Finnish historySeptember saw the biggest ever climate event in the history ofFinland. Both a festival and a demonstration, it brought 4,000people together calling for ambition and commitment innational climate politics. Activists symbolically flooded the Houseof Parliament where white umbrellas emerged from the bluecrowd to spell Ilmastolaki nyt climate law now. Friends of theEarth Finland pulled the event together with more than twentyorganisations that form the Finnish Big Ask campaign coalition.

Germany: Marching against nuclear As part of a wide movementincluding environment organisations, trade unions and churches,

50,000 people marched through the streets of Berlin declaringthat its time to switch off nuclear power. It was the biggest anti-nuclear demonstration in Germany since Chernobyl and sent aclear message to politicians that nuclear power is not a solutionto energy security or climate change.

Norway: Saving River Vefsna River Vefsna is among the twelvebiggest rivers in Norway, nine of which are already dammed forhydroelectric power production. Until June 2009 only two wereprotected, but thanks to decades-long work from Friends of theEarth Norway, in coalition with local action group Save theVefsna, the Norwegian Parliament voted to protect the river.

Poland: Change yourself, not the climate, with RadioheadDuring environmentally-conscious rock band Radioheads tourof Poland, Friends of the Earth Poland gathered signatures fora petition to the Polish Prime Minister, demanding emissionsreductions, the development of renewable energy sources and

improvement of energy efficiency. The underlying message ofthe petition was Change yourself, not the climate.

Spain: Documenting climate change testimonies Thedocumentary film User Manual for a Spaceship produced byFriends of the Earth Spain recorded testimonies of people inSpain whose professional lives have been affected by climatechange. From fishermen who find different species in theircatches, to wine-growers facing competition from Northerncompetitors growing in previously unsuitable climates, thefilm shows that everyone is affected.

Switzerland: Success for legislation on rivers In April, following

strong lobbying from Friends of the Earth Switzerland, includinggathering 160,000 citizens signatures, the Swiss Parliamenttook into account calls from environmental organisations for alaw to protect rivers, avoiding the need for a nationwidereferendum. The law favours a more close-to-nature rivermanagement, allocates means for the restoration of destroyedriverine habitats, and prevents highly damaging practices ofhydropower plants that regularly destroy biodiversity in streams.

France: Revealing bank secrets Friends of the Earth Franceorganised a bankers strip-tease in front of the Parisheadquarters of French bank BNP Paribas to reveal whatshidden under bankers clothes. Among the bank secrets were

nuclear power plants in earthquake zones and controversialand polluting megaprojects... Not really sexy.

JoanaNevesdeSousa

Thousands flood the Finnish parliament calling for a climate law

FoEGermany

Thousands marching in Berlin against nuclear power

YFoENetherlands

Collecting public messages onclimate change for the Dutchenvironment minister


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In 2009 Friends of the Earth Europe produced the followingpublications, all of which are available on our website www.foeeurope.org/publications or by contacting us.

GMOs: Who Benefits from GM crops?Feeding the biotech giants, not theworlds poor (February 2009) Revealsthe failure of genetically modifiedcrops around the world and howstatistics showing their increase inEurope have been manipulated.

EU Funds: Faster... but smarter or moredestructive? (April 2009) This updatedmap displays 55 environmentallydestructive and economically unsoundprojects In Central and Eastern Europe.

Extractive industries: Public money forfossil fuels in the EU and in 3 EU memberstates (May 2009) Provides an overviewof all forms of public money spent on theproduction and primary processing offossil fuels (oil, gas and coal) in France,the Netherlands, United Kingdom andthe European Union since 2004.

Extractive industries: ArcelorMittal:Going nowhere slowly (May 2009)Highlights that despite ArcelorMittalsrhetoric, it continues to destroy theenvironment, risk peoples lives and

displace local communities.Friends of the Earth Europe:Annual Review 2008 (May 2009)

Extractive industries: IrresponsibleEnergy. Shell: The Worlds MostCarbon Intensive Oil Company (May2009) This brief reveals that Shell hasbecome the most carbon intensive oilcompany in the world.

Green 10: Off target - EuropeanCommission 2004-2009 EnvironmentalProgress Report and Lessons for theNext Commission (June 2009) Thisreport from the Green10 examines theenvironmental record of the outgoingEuropean Commission.

Extractive industries: Shells Big DirtySecret (June 2009) A report on oil giantShell and its colossal contribution toglobal climate change and dirty formsof energy.

Resources and consumption: How tomeasure Europes resource use (June2009) Presents a suggestion for a setof resource use indicators.

Nuclear: The price tag of nuclear power(September 2009) This report highlightsthe current PR-war being fought by thenuclear lobby to advertise unproven andfalse benefits of nuclear power.

Resources and consumption:Overconsumption - Our use of the worldsnatural resources (September 2009)Provides evidence on current trends inresource use in different world regionsand its environmental and social impacts.

Trade: Is world trade law a barrier to

saving our climate? (September 2009)This legal analysis corrects the distortedpicture of WTO rules and demonstratesthat WTO rules provide adequateflexibility for national policy makers tomeet the climate change challenge.

Waste: Gone to Waste: The valuableresources that European countriesbury and burn (October 2009) Thisanalysis examines the disposal ofvaluable recyclable materials to landfillor incineration in the EU and estimatesthe value of these lost materials, andthe climate change benefits that couldhave been gained by recycling them.Corporates: A captive Commission -the role of the financial industry inshaping EU regulation (November2009) Examines how before, duringand in the wake of the worst financialcrisis for a generation, the EuropeanCommission chose to listen almostexclusively to the finance industry.

Agrofuels: Biofuels Handle with care(November 2009) Highlights thefailure of current biofuel policy toaccount for the environmental impactof indirect land use change.EU Funds: Potential unfulfilled: EUfunds need to deliver more clean andefficient energy in Central and EasternEurope (November 2009) This analysisreveals that although EU structural andcohesion funds have the potential tocatalyse the transition to a low carboneconomy in Central and Eastern Europethis prospect remains remote.

Trade: Calling the EUs bluff (December2009) Questions the EUs role innegotiating free trade agreements.

Climate justice: The 40% Study -Mobilising Europe to achieve climate

justice (December 2009) A summary ofthe study by Stockholm EnvironmentInstitute which proves for the firsttime that 40% domestic emissionscuts by 2020 in Europe are technicallypossible and financially feasible.

Climate justice: Climate Justice Times(December 2009) A special publicationproduced for the UN climate talks inCopenhagen with articles andtestimonies about climate justice.

Agrofuels: Losing the plot (December2009) A report highlighting the threatto community land and the rural poorthrough the spread of the agrofuel

jatropha in India.

Publications


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The 40% study


Demanding 40% emission cuts in Europe by 2020 Christoffer Askman/FoEI

Our research in partnership with Stockholm Environment Institute proved for the first time that Europe can cut domesticemissions by at least 40% in 2020, and by 90% in 2050, compared to 1990 levels.

The study describes one possible pathway for achieving a Europe that is on track to meet its commitments to avert climatecatastrophe and is also cleaner, healthier and more socially just than the way we live today.

We excluded high risk or false solutions, like nuclear, biofuels and CCS, which divert valuable resources from safer, less riskyalternatives and do not address the root problem of soaring emissions and wasteful use of energy.

We showed that steep emission cuts can be achieved through radical changes in Europes energy system combined with

behavioural changes and dramatic improvements in energy efficiency. These changes include:

a major shift towards towards various types of renewable energy with wind power increasing from 3%of the energy mix in 2010 to 55% in 2050

the binding phase out of nuclear, coal and oil fired power generation as soon as possible

the progressive electrification of vehicles by 2050 and rail by 2030

a shift from individual to public transport with only 43% of trips being made by car in 2050 compared to 75% in 2005

funds made available for energy saving measures in every household

a new food and farming policy for Europe that shifts climate unfriendly intensive agriculture towards sustainable farming

overall industrial energy demand decreases by 62% by 2050 compared to 2010

lifestyle changes resulting in average per capita emissions of one metric tonne CO2 equivalent per year in 2050 around eight times lower than today

support for public awareness activities on the need for changes in consumption and lifestyle.

The study concludes that only political will is preventing Europe from rising to the challenge of achieving climate justice.

To read the whole study or to find out more please visit www.thebigask.eu/40percentstudy


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Financial information

Income sources 2009 (in euros)

Operational grant - EUProject grants - EU

Project grants - national governmentsProject grants - foundationsProject contributions - membersMembership feesOther income

Total income 2009

Operational grant - EUProject grants - EUProject grants - national governmentsProject grants - foundationsProject contributions - membersMembership feesOther income

Expenditure 2009 (in euros)

Campaigning and communicationsNetwork developmentSupport to national campaignsManagement and organisational developmentAdministration, IT and office costs

Total expenditure 2009

Reserves carried forward (2%)

Campaigning and communicationsNetwork developmentSupport to national campaignsManagement and organisational developmentAdministration, IT and office costs

813,721355,646

8,3571,376,40163,487

162,32122,627

2,802,560

1,232,761155,850598,249278,158487,542

2,752,560

50,000

44%6%

21%10%17%

Thank you! Friends of the Earth Europes work would not be possible were it not for the support of our donors. We would like to thankthe following foundations and institutions who helped fund our work: EU Commission Directorate General (DG) Environment, OakFoundation, the European Climate Foundation, The Sigrid Rausing Trust, the EU Commission DG Development, the EU ExecutiveAgency for Competitiveness and Innovation, the EU Education, Audiovisual & Culture Executive Agency, the James M GoldsmithFoundation, the Ministry for Environment Netherlands, Isvara Foundation, Heinrich Bll Foundation, and the UK Foreign andCommonwealth Office. Thanks also to Friends of the Earth Europe national member groups and Friends of the Earth International.

Full copies of Friends of the Earth Europes accounts are available from the Belgian National Bank at www.nbb.be from 1st July 2010.

Quote company number 0443.252.089

Details of our funding can be found on our website: www.foeeurope.org/about/english.htm

29%13%


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Friends of the Earth Europe ANNUAL REVIEW 2009 | 15Friends of the Earth Europe ANNUAL REVIEW 2009 | 15

Our work in 2010

Friends of the Earth Europe will not be deterred in our efforts in 2010 and well continue to address the changes and challengesthat present themselves, always with our overriding goal of challenging over-consumption, including its European and globalimpacts, and championing sustainable development and environmental justice.

Amongst our many activities in 2010 we will be focusing on:

showing the feasibility and affordability of, and building public pressure for, at least 40% domestic emission cutsby 2020 in Europe

through our European Big Ask campaign, continuing to progress towards national climate legislation with bindingannual emissions cuts in more countries around Europe

monitoring European biofuel policy and ensuring that any proposals address adequately the greenhouse emissionscreated by indirect land use change

enabling European citizens to express their opposition to the weakening of EU GMO laws

steadily increasing our capacity in the areas of biodiversity and agriculture, in the Year of Biodiversity and in the contextof CAP and EU Budget reforms

urging the EU to address the issue of natural resources by measuring Europes overall use of resources, and creatingtargets and policies to reduce this

raising public awareness of the social, environmental and human rights impacts of EU business in developing countries

making sure that EU funds do not support environmentally harmful, socially unacceptable or economically dubiousprojects in Central and Eastern Europe

monitoring the effectiveness of lobby registration in Brussels and exposing the need for improvements to the currentEuropean Commission and Parliament registers by naming and shaming cases of bad conduct.

To find out more about any of our activities please visit www.foeeurope.org or contact us.

Calling for an end to corporate influence in Brussels FoEE


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Published May 2010. Printed on 100% recycled paper, using vegetable-based inks

Austria, Vienna Global 2000 | Global 2000. Belgium - Wallonie, Namur Les Amis de la Terre | Friends of the Earth. Belgium Flanders, Gent Friends of the Earth Vlaanderen & Brussel | Friends of the Earth Flanders & Brussels. Bulgaria, Sofia Ecoglasnost| Ecoglasnost. Croatia, Zagreb Zelena Akcija | Green Action. Cyprus, Limassol Friends of the Earth | Friends of the Earth. Czech

Republic, Brno Hnut Duha | Rainbow Movement. Denmark, Copenhagen NOAH | NOAH. England/Wales/Northern Ireland,London Friends of the Earth | Friends of the Earth. Estonia, Tartu. Eesti Roheline Liikumine | Estonian Green Movement. Finland,Turku Maan Ystvt Ry | Friends of the Earth. France, Montreuil. Les Amis de la Terre | Friends of the Earth. Georgia, TbilisiSakhartvelos Mtsvaneta Modzraoba | Greens Movement of Georgia. Germany, Berlin Bund fr Umwelt und NaturschutzDeutschland | Association for Environment and Nature Protection. Hungary, Budapest Magyar Termszetvdok Szvetsge |National Society of Conservationists. Ireland, Dublin Friends of the Earth | Friends of the Earth. Italy, Rome Amici della Terra |Friends of the Earth. Latvia, Riga Zemes Draugi | Friends of the Earth Lithuania, Kaunas Lietuvos Zaliuju Judjimas | LithuanianGreen Movement. Luxembourg, Luxembourg Mouvement Ecologique | Ecological Movement. Macedonia, Skopje Dvizhenje naEkologistite na Makedonija | Ecologists Movement of Macedonia. Malta, Valletta Moviment ghall-Ambjent | Movement forthe Environment. The Netherlands, Amsterdam Vereniging Milieudefensie | Environmental Defence. Norway, Oslo NorgesNaturvernforbund | Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature. Poland, Krakow Polski Klub Ekologiczny | Polish EcologicalClub. Scotland, Edinburgh Friends of the Earth Scotland | Friends of the Earth Scotland. Slovakia, Banska Bystrica Priatelia Zeme Slovensko | Friends of the Earth Slovakia. Spain, Madrid Amigos de la Tierra | Friends of the Earth. Sweden, Gothenburg

Miljfrbundet Jordens Vnner | Environmental Group Friends of the Earth. Switzerland, Basel Pro Natura | Friends of the EarthSwitzerland. Ukraine, Kiev Zelenyi Svit | Green World.

Friends of the Earth EuropeMundo-B Building, Rue dEdimbourg 26,

1050 Brussels, Belgiumtel: +32 2 893 1000 fax: +32 2 893 1035e: [email protected] www.foeeurope.orgfor the people | for the planet | for the future

Friends of the Earth Europe Annual Review 2009

Documents

Transcript of Friends of the Earth Europe Annual Review 2009