Tony Blair

Tony Blair to visit the Netherlands to discuss climate solutions

Amsterdam, 6 May 2009

The Dutch Postcode Lottery has invited former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair to discuss climate change and the low carbon economy in The Hague on Friday 8 May.

Mr Blair will join Dutch Minister for European Affairs Frans Timmermans, and a panel of ‘green’ entrepreneurs about leveraging opportunities and solutions to the climate problem.

Blair is partnering with Postcode Lottery beneficiary The Climate Group on an initiative – ‘Breaking the Climate Deadlock’ – to garner support from politicians around the world for an ambitious and effective international climate treaty due to be negotiated in December 2009 at the UN’s climate summit in Copenhagen.

On 8 May, Dutch and international entrepreneurs will discuss innovative solutions in the fields of wind and solar energy, LED lighting, and electric vehicles before an audience of politicians, entrepreneurs and representatives of NGOs. The roundtable discussions will be based on a new paper, “Low Carbon Opportunities for the Netherland Today”, recommended by the entrepreneurs to the Dutch government, which focus on sustainable energy, LED lighting, electric transport, and sustainable construction (see attachment). These entrepreneurs are Hans de Boer – Better Place, Bill Gross – Esolar, Ruud Koornstra – Lemnis Lighting and Ad van Wijk – Econcern.

Blair and climate change
Tony Blair was the first government leader to put climate change on international politicians’ agenda at the 2005 G8 meeting. The Postcode Lottery is supporting Mr Blair and its beneficiary The Climate Group in creating broad public awareness of solutions to climate change in the Netherlands.
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing the world. Yet many solutions for making the transition to a sustainable economy are already available. The Postcode Lottery wants to help show people what these solutions are. As part of this pledge, it will be distributing 2.5 million ultra-efficient LED bulbs free to Lottery participants in autumn 2009.

Society always wins
Fifty percent of the Dutch Postcode Lottery’s revenues go to charity. Thanks to the 2.5 million participants who played in 2008, a record sum of more than 244 million Euros to 66 charitable organisations was distributed. These charities work on behalf of humanity and the environment and include WWF, UNICEF, Natuurmonumenten, Vogelbescherming Nederland, STOP AIDS NOW!, Humanitas, and the DOEN Foundation.

The Climate Group
The Climate Group is an independent, not-for-profit organisation working internationally with government and business leaders to advance smart policies and technologies to cut global emissions and accelerate a low carbon economy. Its global coalition of companies, states, regions and cities around the world recognise the economic and environmental imperatives of taking decisive action now. The Climate Group was founded in 2004 and has operations in Australia, China, Europe, India and North America. Back...