KYOTO PROTOCOL OPENS FOR SIGNATURE
Greenpeace - Climate Demands Early Signature

16 March 1998

WASHINGTON, DC - With the Kyoto Protocol opening for signature today, Greenpeace is calling upon the Clinton Administration to show U.S. leadership and commitment on climate change by being the first nation to sign the protocol.

As the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, the U.S. can send a powerful signal to the world of its commitment to reduce its emissions. The recent string of record breaking climatic events--the most powerful El Nino on record, the hottest year on record, and the warmest & wettest January and February in North America on record--clearly demonstrate what is in store for us if we do not break our addiction to fossil fuels and make the switch to renewable energy as rapidly as possible.

Greenpeace is calling upon all parties to the Kyoto Protocol to ratify and implement the Protocol as soon as possible. "The Kyoto Protocol may only be a small step toward addressing the threat of dangerous climate change, but it is a small step that will help us take the bigger steps that are urgently needed," said Gary Cook, Greenpeace Climate Legislative Director.

Early action on the domestic level, such as the aggressive promotion of renewable energy and energy efficiency, should be implemented as soon as possible. While the Clinton Administration's incentive package for renewable energy and energy efficiency is a step in the right direction, it is only a drop in the bucket compared to type of effort needed to address the problem. The Clinton Administration has yet to put forth a consistent climate policy. "We cannot afford to burn even a quarter of the fossil fuels that we have already found if we are to avoid serious climate change, yet the Clinton Administration is about to open up pristine areas in Alaska for new oil exploration. Further exploration for more fossil fuels that we cannot burn is a waste of money that is desperately needed for the development of renewable energy," said Cook.

Greenpeace is also seriously concerned about the remaining loopholes in the protocol, including:

* Trading & Joint Implementation: As it currently stands, both Emissions Trading and Joint Implementation could result in reductions on paper only, not in the real world. Paper trades of "hot air" emissions reductions from Russia and other Central and East European Countries would allow the countries involved to continue to pollute at the same level, with no real benefit to the environment.

* Clean Development Mechanism: While it has the potential to be an important mechanism for helping lesser developed countries leapfrog to renewable energy sources, if not designed properly, it could simply become another mechanism for dumping outdated or dangerous technologies, such as "clean" coal or nuclear energy.

* Sinks: While Greenpeace strongly supports efforts to enhance the protection of forests and other reservoirs of carbon, the protection or planting of trees should be done in addition to reducing fossil fuel emissions, not as an alternative. To do otherwise could lead to a catastrophic feedback in the near future, as climate change impacts result in the destruction of these same forests, releasing even more carbon into the atmosphere.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Gary Cook, Greenpeace Climate Campaign, (202) 319-2419
Andrew Davies, Greenpeace Media Department, (202) 319-2432