Brussels, 15/12/2003 (Agence Europe) - After two weeks of discussion, the UN conference in Milan on climate change ended on Friday in an atmosphere of uncertainty concerning the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol. Following defection by the United States, only Russia today has the necessary weight to make ratification of the Protocol a reality, but there is still suspense after the declarations by Russia's head of delegation, Alexander Bedritsky. The latter, AFP states, demands renegotiation of a protocol mechanism encouraging westerners' own investment in transition economies. "This and a number of other obligations have significantly changed the conditions under which we could possibly participate in the Kyoto Protocol in its present form", he thus stated. He nonetheless left the door open for possible ratification.
During the conference, a majority of 95 Environment Ministers showed their attachment to the protocol of which the EU remains a firm supporter. "The Kyoto Protocol is the only instruments on the table" for combating climate change, European Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström clearly said. The conference finalised technical rules for application still outstanding and reached agreement on the functioning of a Special Fund for Climate Change and a Fund for the lesser developed countries, fuelled by voluntary contributions from northern countries which will help their southern neighbours to adjust to the impact of global warming and to equip themselves with less polluting technologies. The 15 EU Member States had already confirmed at the opening of the conference a total contribution of $369 million (for which only Italy has published its share, namely 86 million dollars). Canada, for its part, announced as discussions closed that it was going to release US$35 million in the context of this agreement.
On the side of the ecologist associations, Friends of the Earth International is optimistic about the future of the protocol but denounces the negative attitude of the United States which, even if it has not ratified the protocol, may take part in discussions. It is also very opposed to the use of genetically modified trees for storage of greenhouse gases (see EUROPE of 11 December, p.12). The northern countries that have contributed to climate change must not offset damage caused by imposed plantation schemes which are destructive for the South environmentally and socially, Roger Higman of Friends of the Earth said. He added that they will continue to denounce and combat projects that are detrimental to the forests and which are put forward in the South as an alternative to reducing northern emissions.