During the closing days of a two-week critical UN climate change conference in Poland, the world was in danger of losing momentum towards a new global climate treaty. Simultaneous climate discussions at the European Union in Brussels had seen Germany attempt to block progress and seek concessions for its heavily polluting industries -- a move that divided Europe and undermined European leadership at the UN talks.
Former climate hero, German Chancellor Merkel, appeared to have turned climate villain. The reason: a combination of the economic crisis and a 2009 election year meant that Merkel was seriously feeling the pressure to cut spending on environmental programs. With the voice of German industry growing louder in Merkel's ear, it was clear that German public opinion needed as say as well. Avaaz commissioned independent national polls in Germany (as well as in Poland and Italy, two other countries blocking progress). The polls asked a simple question, do voters think there is a compromise between environmental protection and climate action. On the final day of the UN talks in the Poland, Avaaz published the polling results and a message to Merkel as a 3-page series of ads in the official conference newspaper the Gazeta Wyborcza. You can see the ads below, and then click here to read more about our climate campaigning during these December meetings.
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