US position on climate change - First reactions from the Environment Commissioner
Mrs. Ritt Bjerregaard, European Commissioner for the environment, has expressed her disappointment at the position taken by the US with regard to climate change. US President Bill Clinton outlined the US position on climate change in a speech delivered on 26 October 1997. Whilst clearly recognising the need for action the US contributions to the further discussions fall well short of expectations. Reacting to the US position, Mrs Bjerregaard affirmed: "I am disappointed with the very weak level of ambition of the US. This is not an adequate response to the global problems of climate change". Commissioner Bjerregaard further underlined that "the Convention on Climate Change as adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992 already urges emission stabilization by 2000 at 1990 levels for industrialized countries. The US position to reach this goal by sometime around 2010 is therefore a significant step in the wrong direction. Kyoto is all about legally binding emission objectives and should clearly improve the Convention. Instead the US seeks to weaken it considerably - even though they are responsible for close to 25% of the global emissions of greenhouse gases". Commissioner Bjerregaard also recalled the resolution adopted by the Union of Concerned Scientists which was presented to President Clinton on 30 September 1997 at a Science Summit on Climate Change. The resolution contains language like: "The threat of global warming is very real and action is needed immediately". "There is only one responsible choice - to act now". "This is a wake-up call for world leaders". Commissioner Bjerregaard repeated her support for this landmark consensus declaration and urged all Parties to the Convention "to carefully consider and respect this scientific advice on the devastating consequences of human-induced global warming". She dismissed earlier allegations that the EU position was "unfair" or "overambitious" or "not realistic". She referred in particular to the Communication on Climate Change adopted by the Commission on 1 October which demonstrates "that the EU negotiating position on a 15% reduction of the emissions of three greenhouse gasses is technically feasible and economically manageable". The Commissioner added that "it must be done and it can be done - provided the political will is there. This goes for the EU. Don't tell me other industrialized countries cannot do the same". Mrs. Bjerregaard stressed the need to reach a result in Kyoto, but added: "the US now finds itself in a difficult position by having neglected their obligation under the Convention to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions in 2000 by 1990 levels". Commissioner Bjerregaard finally recalled President Clinton's intervention during the second Earth Summit in New York in June this year, where he applauded the EU position and said: "We will bring to the Kyoto Conference in December a strong American commitment to realistic and binding limits that will significantly reduce our emissions of greenhouse gasses".
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United States