Australia, Canada, Russia and Japan are attempting to undermine the landmark Kyoto Protocol, by watering down its language and exploiting loopholes, Greenpeace warned as climate negotiations resumed today in Morocco. Greenpeace are concerned that these countries must not be allowed to weaken the Protocol further after the US walked away from the vital agreement reached in Bonn in July.
The 7th Conference of the Parties (COP7) of the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) begins today in Morocco, to finalise the details of the Bonn Agreement. The Protocol is initially designed to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 5% by a first commitment period, by 2010. However the current loopholes in the treaty mean that this is unlikely to be met. Greenpeace is calling for a minimal use of loopholes and for the conference to set all industrialised countries on a path to agree a goal of at least 80% emissions cuts by 2050.
Bill Hare, Greenpeace International climate policy director who is at the talks said, "Throughout the next two weeks of talks, Greenpeace will be aiming to ensure that the Protocol is as effective as possible. It's vital that Australia, Canada, Russia, and Japan must not be allowed to further weaken the Kyoto Protocol. Delegates must finish the job." "Kyoto remains the only international legal instrument designed to start the world on the road towards the massive reductions in greenhouse gas emissions that are needed this century to avoid disastrous climate change. We cannot afford to let it be sacrificed to greed and short-sightedness." Most countries have set a target of 2002 for ratification and implementation of the Protocol, and are moving towards that date; but a few, including Australia, Canada and Japan are still holding out on the final details before ratifying. The United States, which signed and ratified the UNFCCC in 1992, and signed the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, continues to state that it no longer intends to ratify or implement the Protocol.
Japan is extremely nervous about legally binding penalties for failing to meet its emission obligations. Canada also wants to weaken the requirement to report its 'sinks' (tree planting schemes to store carbon dioxide). Russia is demanding an even bigger sink allowance than it got in Bonn. In its ongoing attempt to avoid an agreement that has any legal consequences, Australia has tried to weaken the whole Protocol by substituting the word "should" for the word "shall" throughout the compliance agreement, weakening its legal power. Australia also wants to be able play with its figures on forestry and land use, and is trying to get the rules written so it doesn't even have to say exactly where the forests are. The USA is refusing to ratify the Protocol at all, but is still participating in negotiations. While the US has indicated it would come up with an alternative policy to address climate change, it has not done so. Greenpeace will be watching the US closely to see whether it attempts to block the Protocol or interfere with progress made by other participants. Greenpeace believes that the world cannot afford to wait for the US and must not be tempted to water down the treaty still further to get them on board. The urgent first step is the ratification and entry into force of Kyoto. Next the protocol must be implemented fully and the next steps developed within the convention for further and deeper cuts in global warming gases. Laura Yates, Greenpeace climate campaigner in the UK said, "Here in the UK Tony Blair claims he is committed to Kyoto. He said in his recent party conference speech that Kyoto is right and the UK will implement it and call upon all other nations to do so. Let's now see him commit and give us a date for UK ratification."
Further information:
Contact:
Greenpeace UK Press Office on 020 7865 8255
