Brussels, 05/10/2004 (Agence Europe) - The move by the Russian authorities toward ratification of the Kyoto Protocol was cautiously welcomed by the European employers' organisation.
After urging the EU to review its climate policy in case Russia did not ratify the Kyoto Protocol, UNICE now sees the chances of such revision evaporating. It stresses that, although the decision by the cabinet of the Russian Federation is a positive move forward, this will not resolve everything - and especially not the problems of European industrial competitiveness unless conditions are developed on a global basis for efficient climate change management.
Philippe de Buck, UNICE General Secretary, states in a press release: "Whilst it is clear that this decision will give a new impetus to the Kyoto Protocol and combating climate change, there are many more challenges that have to be overcome before there is a truly comprehensive global agreement to combat the risks of climate change that includes all countries and regions, particularly the major emitters of greenhouse gases. Only with such an agreement, which must be developed on a global basis, will businesses around the world be competing on equal terms". Part of the solution to maintain European industry's level of competitiveness can be achieved by promoting research, as well as developing and disseminating existing and new technologies, but "these activities can only be carried out by competitive and profitable companies", Mr Buck stresses.
According to UNICE, the "policy challenges" to be faced are: - how to start the negotiations for the post-2012 period; - how to pursue a long-term framework that includes future participation by all nations; - and participation in greenhouse gas emission commitments by industrialised and developing countries.
UNICE also warns against excessive red tape which could be detrimental to the flexibility of the Kyoto mechanisms to which the EU has planned to resort from January 2005 with the creation of a Community market for trading greenhouse gas emissions, joint implementation and the Clean Development Mechanism. "Emission reduction credits from projects should assist European companies in meeting their commitments under the European Emissions Trading Scheme (…) in a more cost-efficient manner. However, many thousands of such projects will be needed and the current bureaucratic procedures in place under the Climate Change Convention are onerous and act against this objective", UNICE explains.
For all the above reasons, the European employers' confederation announces that it plans to take part in the debate on the approach to be adopted for the post-2012 period, not only within the EU but also at international level.