Brussels, 02/04/2001 (Agence Europe) - On the eve of the Union Troika mission, sent on Monday and Tuesday to Washington (see EUROPE of 31 March, p.5), the deliberations by the EU 15 Environment Ministers over the attitude to adopt in the face of the unilateral decision by the Americans to bury the Kyoto Protocol on climatic change, dominated the Informal Environment Council that took place last weekend in Kiruna (Sweden); to such an extent that the fruitful results of the exchange of views over the conservation of nature and biodiversity - theme retained for this informal session - where eclipsed (EUROPE will return to this tomorrow). Readiness to dialogue with United States, flexibility with regards to their concerns, determination to work towards the continuation of international negotiations on climate in view of reaching a proper agreement with all the parties in July in Bonn, but also the unmoving desire to move forward - if necessary without the United States - to ratify the Kyoto Protocol in 200233 at the latest, are the main words of the strategy unanimously approved by the Ministers and the European Commission. Following the works that where chaired by the Presidency, Kjell Larsson, Swedish Environment Minister, clearly echoed by the international press, thus summarised the Council's point of view:
Contrary to what the Americans assert, the Kyoto Protocol is still alive;
No country is able, individually, to state that a multilateral agreement is dead;
It is the responsibility of all the governments - and mainly the industrialised countries having, as with the United States, a higher level of CO2 emissions per capita - to reach an agreement on the basis of the Kyoto Protocol;
The Union will immediately and actively take part in the negotiations leading to the continuation of the Convention to the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climatic Change (COP6, mid-July in Bonn);
This week, the European Troika will go to the United States, but also the Russia, Iran (country which is holding the rotating Presidency of the group of 77 developing countries), Japan and China;
The EU hopes that the United States will take part in the Kyoto process, but it is prepared to find a solution without the United States.
The Union maintains its aim of ratifying the Kyoto Protocol by 2002 at the latest. To do this, the EU and its Member States have launched themselves into the preparations for the ratification, and will continue their unfailing efforts to fights climatic change, notably by developing the European programme for climatic change (EPCC), in order to reduce Union greenhouse gas emissions.
Kjell Larsson recalled that the United States have a level of green house gas emissions that is 40 time higher than that of the developing countries. It is for the industrialised countries to assume their responsibility by taking on a share that is there's in the sharing of efforts. The developing countries could follow the lead, but it is necessary to leave them the margin of manoeuvre required to ensure the development. Margot Wallström, European Commissioner for the Environment added: it is false to assert that the developing countries are not included in the collective effort. They are so through the changes required from them in the framework of the own development mechanism. Even if they are not held to any binding target in the first period of engagement, they are part of the United Nations Framework Convention, they take part in COP6. The financial support that is given to them aims to help them develop their own expertise in the knowledge that they are the main victims of climate change. Asserting that the developing countries are not included, is showing a lack of political foresight. The Commission noted that the potential of the United States for energy saving is enormous. The Americans must understand that there is a great deal to win in fighting against climatic change if we use efficient and economic profitable instruments, she stated, when expressing disappointment mixed with indignation.
Questioned over the hypothesis of an agreement without the United States, Kjell Larsson admitted that it would an agreement of less scope. We have the obligation to honour the Protocol. It is unacceptable that a country uses a right to veto. The United States have signed the Kyoto Protocol. We must continue negotiations in the framework of the Protocol, he stated. The aim of the European Troika, in Washington, is to have a discussion, to ask for details over the American position, which is not clear, to listen to their arguments and outline our own. At this stage, Mr Larsson excluded the possibility of European sanctions against the United States. We have spoken of this hypothesis, feeling that this kind of language, before meeting the Americans, is of no value.
Svend Auken, the Danish Minister, felt that it could be possible to reduce the scope of the multilateral agreement, but in no way cancel it. According to him, the American attitude is outrageous it arose without consultation, without negotiation and at the time when the latest report by the intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) reviewed upwards its already alarming initial estimates on the phenomenon of global warming.
According to Jan Pronk, United States decision is premature, but the Americans
have not said their last word
During a press conference, the Dutch Minister, Jan Pronk, speaking as President of the COP6, said he was "extremely disappointed and shocked" with the about turn of the Americans who, after having obtained the COP6 report (initially foreseen for May) to give the Bush Administration sufficient time to better prepare to continuation of negotiations, purely and simply decreed that Kyoto was dead. He noted that the United States had also promised that the analysis of their policy in this matter would be "an open process", attached to a dialogue with other countries (from the Umbrella group and G77). Why ask for more time to prepare, if at the same time, announce the death of the Kyoto Protocol?, wondered Mr Pronk when underlining to obvious contradiction in the signals coming from the Americans. Under these conditions, the coming weeks will require intense diplomatic prowess, felt Jan Pronk. My intention is to do everything that is in my power to maintain the family's cohesion, in the interest of future generations of the world human family. We are working for a COP6 based on consensus that will enable each, on one way or another, to approve it. It is extremely important as the COP6 is a crucial first step to tackle greenhouse gases, he stated, when recalling that the aim of Kyoto for an average reduction of 5.2% in total emissions by 2008-2012, is well below the 15% reduction considered necessary by the IPCC. It is a global challenge that must be taken on by the global family, he added when saying that the solution cannot be dictated by internal political reasons. Refusing to qualify, as Kjell Larsson, the American attitude as "arrogance of the powerful", Mr Pronk preferred to see in it a "premature decision", dictated by internal reasons and by a lack of capability linked to a newly established administration.
The timetable for the coming months will be very tight: on 9 April Mr Pronk will present all the parties with a "new" package of compromises, to be discussed by all, including by the United States, by summarising the results of the COP6 at the time when it was interrupted in The Hague, and the hundreds of amendments received since then. 21 April will be a significant date: around forty industrialised countries will meet in New York for the meeting of the UN Sustainable Development Commission. The Americans will have time to prepare and decide to negotiate with all the parties or to withdraw from the game. If the Americans do not take part, the Union will have to continue negotiating with Australia, Canada and Japan, as for them, Kyoto is not dead. Whatever happens, we will continue the COP6, concluded Jan Pronk.