Brussels, 27/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - As the international conference on climate change (COP 6, Bonn, 16-27 July) draws nearer, the EP Committee on the Environment invites the Union to urge for ratification and the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol, without the Americans if need be. Its proposal for a resolution (to be voted in plenary next week) on Community strategy for the Bonn conference, prepared by its president, Caroline Jackson, British Conservative, denounces the fact that the Bush Administration had abandoned the Protocol, but leaves the door open to the Americans in the hope that a determined effort from all parties will being them back onto the right road.
The main task of the Conference will be to resolve key questions over which the conference in The Hague stumbled in November 2000, say MEPs. They restate their position in favour of a limited use of counting carbon sinks in the realisation of greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, against the promotion of nuclear energy as a clean energy source, and in favour of a system of fines to sanction non compliance with the commitments subscribed to.
Invited by MEPs to express her point of view on carbon sinks, Margot Wallström, Environment Commissioner, felt it was not realistic to withdraw this instrument from the Kyoto Protocol, and that a gesture in favour of Japan, to facilitate its recourse to this flexible mechanism, would be valuable in gaining the support of this country. Its support is all the more important as the Americans have turned their back on the Protocol. Concerning nuclear energy, Ms Wallström felt that this source of energy is sufficiently controversial to be dismissed. Answering questions on the date when the Commission's proposal on the establishment of a market for emission rights in the Union would be presented, the Commissioner pointed out that it would be ready before the summer break. The Union's general strategy for achieving its commitments under the Kyoto Protocol will follow this autumn, she specified.