Anglo American's negative influence on climate policies exposed

Corporate Europe Observatory

Friends of the Earth International

Transnational Institute

EMBARGO : 8 December at 01:00 GMT

LIMA, PERU, 8 December 2014 – Multinational corporations such as Anglo American undermine crucial climate policies and promote false solutions, which allow them to profit from the climate crisis, according to a new report released 8 December during the UN climate talks. [1]

The activities of mining giant Anglo American are examined in the new report, which focuses on one of the world's biggest open-pit coal mine El Cerrejón, in La Guajira, Colombia. British-South African company Anglo American is one of its three shareholders.

Anglo American profits from false solutions to the climate crisis such as carbon trading and carbon capture and storage, which benefit big business but not people or the planet, according to the report released by Friends of the Earth International, Corporate Europe Observatory and the Transnational Institute.

Anglo American continues to expand its climate-wrecking dirty business model while using green funds, offset mechanisms and dodgy techno-fixes to present a green image, according to the report 'Anglo American's dirty energy lobby and its false climate solutions' which was released at the 'Peoples Summit against Climate Change' in Lima. [2]

Pascoe Sabido from the Corporate Europe Observatory said:

“Anglo American has aggressively lobbied against subsidies for renewables because it favors dirty energies such as coal and shale gas. Combined with the privileged access to decision makers enjoyed by Anglo and its lobby groups, it is no wonder we are light-years from a fair and ambitious UN climate treaty. Co-hosting cocktail parties with our governments is one of the many ways corporate polluters such as Anglo American lobby for their false solutions to the climate crisis. Unfortunately for people and the planet, our governments are paying attention to these corporate polluters and implementing their false solutions.”

Lyda Forero from the Transnational Institute said:

“Mining in El Cerrejón has brought land grabbing, dispossession and water scarcity to la Guajira in Colombia, and has been denounced by indigenous, peasant, and Afro-Colombian communities. El Cerrejón exports all the coal extracted while leaving behind human and environmental rights violations.”

Lucia Ortiz, Friends of the Earth International economic justice coordinator, said:

“The interests of corporations such as Anglo American clearly come before the people's interests at the climate talks and this is outrageous. Anglo American is well known for the massive impacts of its unsustainable mining operations. Decision makers should listen to the people, not to corporate polluters.”

There are solutions to the climate crisis. They include steep reductions in carbon emissions, stopping fossil fuel extraction and deforestation, building sustainable, community-based energy solutions and transforming our food systems.

These solutions are being discussed at the Peoples Summit in Lima [2] which is attended by social movements and activists from around the world, including Friends of the Earth International, Corporate Europe Observatory and Transnational Institute. They are joining environmental defenders and social movements from Peru and worldwide at the World March in defense of Mother Earth in Lima on December 10th, Human Rights Day.

FOR MORE INFORMATION IN LIMA

Pascoe Sabido, researcher and campaigner, Corporate Europe Observatory: Tel +32 (0) 4 86 85 74 16 (Belgian mobile) or email pascoe@corporateeurope.org

Lyda Forero, researcher, Transnational Institute: Tel +573 10 86 59 826 (Colombian mobile) or email lydafernanda@tni.org

Lucia Ortiz, Friends of the Earth International economic justice coordinator: Tel +55 48 99150071 (Brazilian mobile) or email lucia@natbrasil.org.br

Dipti Bhatnagar, Friends of the Earth International Climate Justice and Energy coordinator: +258 840 356 599 (Mozambique mobile) or email dipti@foei.org

NOTES TO EDITORS

[1] The report, “Anglo American's dirty energy lobby and its false climate solutions” is available IN ENGLISH
http://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/17-foei-corporate-capture-report-eng-lr.pdf
IN FRENCH http://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/19-foei-corporate-capture-report-fr-lr.pdf
IN SPANISH http://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/18-foei-corporate-capture-report-esp-lr.pdf
 

[2] For more information about the Peoples Summit against Climate Change in Lima see : http://cumbrepuebloscop20.org/