Brussels, 11/09/2001 (Agence Europe) - In a resolution on climate change, adopted by a large majority at the plenary session in Strasbourg, the European Parliament welcomed the agreement reached in July in Bonn (COP 6 B) between 180 countries, despite the opposition of the US. The EP regards this agreement as an essential instrument for implementing a world strategy against global warming and an important stage establishing an international and multilateral decision-making process for the environment. As well as sending out a message of hope to all citizens worried by globalisation, it also calls on those concerned, to keep pushing. Convinced that the EU must remain in its leading role of negotiatior, the EP calls on the Commission to: 1) prioritise a ratification proposal for the Koto Protocol before the Marrakech conference COP 7 in October. The EP encourages national governments to get their Parliaments do likewise, to ensure ratification of the Protocol before the World Sustainable Development Summit in Johannesburg in September 2002; 2) to present before the end on the year a Directive on the trading of emission rights system as well as on the European Programme on climate change, which includes sectoral measures, particularly in the field of transport. In this connection, the EP is seeking the implementation of legislation aimed at limiting C02 emissions from all vehicles; 3) encourage Member States to adopt at their earliest convenience national gas and greenhouse emission reduction plans.
The EP is extremely pleased that the Bonn Agreement does not encourage the use of nuclear power and envisages the launching of small projects using renewable energy sources very soon. It is pleased that American businesses have expressed worries that they will loose out to clean technological and efficient energy if their country does not participate in the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. Considering that a certain number of researchers and economists, NGOs and US citizens are hoping for the US Administration to change course over the issue, the EP suggest that COP 9 in 2003 takes place in the USA and deals principally with the international emission trading system currently allowed.
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