Environment Council ratifies Kyoto Protocol
The European Commission's proposal for the EU to ratify the Kyoto Protocol was adopted at the Environment Council on 4 March. Ratification by the EU paves the way for the protocol, which aims to achieve a eight per cent reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases from 1990 levels in the period 2008 to 2012, to enter into force in the 15 Member States of the EU. The agreement reached by the Council was made possible following an agreement from Denmark to postpone discussions on the burden sharing table until 2006, when emission reduction commitments which are currently expressed as percentages will be changed into emission ceilings expressed as tonnes of carbon dioxide. The 'Danish problem' hinges around the issue of the 1990 baseline for reductions in emissions, as during that year Denmark had an unusually low level of emissions. Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström said: 'It's a great day for the climate and for sustainable development,' adding that the agreement 'leads the way into all Member States taking action to combat climate change.' Spanish Environment Minister Jaume Matas said the decision to ratify the Protocol was an historic agreement and 'the best instrument to fight against climate change.' He added that the agreement paved the way for achievement of the EU aim of ratification of the protocol by all Member States in time for the Johannesburg Summit on sustainable development in August this year. Ms Wallström also spoke of the action plan for climate change recently announced by US President George W. Bush. The Commissioner said the plan would 'not allow the USA to meet their obligation under the [Kyoto Protocol] convention' and will allow an increase in emissions of around 30 per cent. Ms Wallström added that 'we of course have called upon all the parties that have signed the Bonn agreement [on climate change] to sign the Kyoto Protocol as well.' She singled out ratification by Japan and Russia as key to achieving the emissions targets set out in the protocol. According to the Commission, Japan and Russia are the two most important countries that have to follow the EU in adopting the protocol in order to achieve the target of ratification by 55 countries which account for at least 55 per cent of 1990 emissions. Asked about the potential economic cost to Europe of implementing the Kyoto Protocol in view of the USA's decision to withdraw from the protocol for economic reasons, Ms Wallström said that implementation of the protocol will not cost the EU more than 0.06 per cent of GDP.