ANZ, Hobart, Wednesday

Paul Oosting Wilderness Society MR

“This should be a major wakeup call to the ANZ to stop funding these climate polluting practices.”
MEDIA RELEASE – 12th December 2007

DAY OF ACTION TO HIGHLIGHT ANZ’S ROLE IN GLOBAL CLIMATE CRISIS

Protests will take place today in front of ANZ branches throughout Australia demanding that the ANZ bank stop funding forest destruction in Tasmania and in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

The protests coincide with the Bali Climate conference, where Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is dragging his feet in committing to an interim target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“World leaders and scientists are currently discussing logging and deforestation, and the devastating climate effects both have in releasing millions of tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere each year,” said Paul Oosting, from the Wilderness Society.

“This should be a major wakeup call to the ANZ to stop funding these climate polluting practices.”

The Stern report on climate change states that ‘curbing deforestation is a highly cost-effective way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Action to preserve the remaining areas of natural forest is needed urgently’.

“Both governments and banks have a global responsibility to help cut greenhouse gas emissions. This starts with refusing support for destructive logging practices and moving to help protect intact native forests.”

“Tasmanian forests are some of the most carbon rich of any forests in the world, yet ancient trees 80 metres tall are being cleared in Tasmania’s Styx Valley,” said Mr Oosting.

Logging and landclearing in Tasmania account for at least 30% of that states greenhouse gas emissions – a proposed pulp mill in Tasmania is conservatively estimated to add 2% to Australia’s annual emissions.

Gunns’ proposed pulp mill that would consume up to 4.5 million tonnes of wood each year, much of it sourced from native forests. The logging needed to supply this mill would create greenhouse gasses equivalent to putting an additional 2.3 million cars on the road each year.

“Responsible action on climate change can start with ANZ refusing to fund Gunns’ proposed pulp mill in Tasmania.”

Protests will take place today at ANZ branches in Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Launceston, Brisbane and Cairns from 12.30 to 1.30pm.