Going green to gain environmental ground

Despite the chaos of Copenhagen, politics and the environment remain close companions. FRANCE 24 looks at how political takeover of the environment.

ENVIRONMENT

By Eve IRVINE

Less than two months after world leaders fashioned together a non binding accord to tackle climate change, UN climate chief Yvo de Boer tells France 24 that the summit in Copenhagen was a ‘mess’.

Plans to reduce CO2 emissions submitted by major countries in time for the January 31^st deadline, represent nothing new. The United States maintained its objective to reduce emissions by 17% form 2005 levels by 2020. India pledged to cut its carbon intensity by 20-25% with China offering a slash of 40-45%.

But despite the limited success of the international summit in Copenhagen back in December, politicians’ are not shying away from the environment. Au contraire; as local elections loom in France, President Nicolas Sarkozy is putting ecology top of the agenda. A whirlwind trip to the island of Corsica see’s him talks about optimising the regions natural resources and avoiding damage from forest fires.

Corsica is known for its rugged natural beauty but the economy is currently battling the environment with divisions arising over how the coastlines should be protected. A law is in place that states that all ‘remarkable’ areas should be kept free of any construction. But the definition of what is considered ‘remarkable’ remains to be seen. ENVIRONMENT meets with some Corsican environmentalists who are worried about the destruction of wetlands and forests.

Nicole and Vincent would not describe themselves as fanatical but some of the hotel owners and property developers on the island see them as a menace that needs to be dealt with. Environmental activists can come in a variety of colours, from the mainstream groups to the more extreme militants. Last month in the UK, official’s listed extreme environmental activists alongside Al Qaeda inspired terrorists: mirroring a move in the United States where last April for the first time ever the FBI added a domestic terrorist to its most wanted list, a 31 year old animal rights activist.

Mairead Dundas

Presenter

07/05/2012 - ENVIRONMENT

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