AGREEMENT AT CLIMATE TALKS - NOW THE HARD WORK BEGINS

23 July 2001

Bonn, Germany, 2001: The international community has finally taken the long overdue second step today in the fight against global warming with the agreement of the rules for implementing the Kyoto Protocol. As a consequence Greenpeace calls upon all countries, in particular Japan, Russia, the European Union and other European countries, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, to take immediate steps to ratify the Kyoto Protocol as matter of urgency. Greenpeace called on Japan in particular to honour the Kyoto Protocol and commit to its ratification now on the basis of the Bonn agreement, and without the USA.

Whilst Greenpeace has significant problems with many parts of the agreement, we believe that it is essential for the Protocol to enter into force as soon as possible, and at the latest by the time of the Rio+ 10 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa in September of 2002. We believe that the basic legal architecture of the Protocol - legally binding obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions - is the essential "ladder" needed to build global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Kyoto Protocol and the Bonn rules to implement it are the first step on what has to be a long climb up this ladder.

The European Union and developing countries have shown leadership in rescuing the Bonn negotiations from destruction at the hands of Japan, Canada and Australia. Almost all parts of the agreement have been weakened due to the efforts of these countries.

"When one questions whether this watered down version of the Kyoto Protocol is worth it, ask yourself who fought most violently against it," said Bill Hare, Climate Policy Director for Greenpeace International. "The answer is OPEC, the fossil fuel industry and their proxies, and, of course, the United States. They failed to kill off the Kyoto Protocol at this meeting in Bonn, but they came close, and what survives is a weaker version of the agreement than was adopted in Kyoto in 1997."

Nuclear power is out of the Kyoto Protocol. It will not be subsidised under either the Clean Development Mechanism or Joint Implementation sections of the Protocol." The nuclear industry's attempts to exploit climate change has been dealt a shattering blow. This is another huge nail in the coffin for the nuclear industry." said Greenpeace International nuclear campaigner Ben Pearson.

Greenpeace warned that countries should not abuse the large loopholes available to them as consequence of the Bonn agreement. Greenpeace will actively campaign to get governments to forgo the use of loopholes such as "hot air" or "sinks" and instead reduce greenhouse gas emissions through comprehensive domestic measures. The spirit of the Kyoto Protocol is clear - nations must wean themselves off the environmentally and economically destructive use of fossil fuels. The Kyoto Protocol can and should be the spark that sets off the coming green revolution, leading to a world where the energy we use is both clean and renewable. Our children deserve nothing less. Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Bill Hare, (Australian), English speaker, +491709057015
Steve Sawyer, (American), English speaker, +31653504715
Michel Raquet, (Belgian), French, English speaker, +32 496163365
Karsten Smid, (German), German, speaker, +491718780821
Shane Rattenbury, (Australian), English speaker, +491716076146
Steven Guilbeault, (Canadian), English, French speaker, +447801857526
Ben Pearson, (Australian), English speaker, +31629001131
Nathalie Eddy (American), English, French speaker, +491752628358
Joris Thijssen (Dutch), Dutch, English, speaker, +31615093590
Tarjei Haaland, (Danish), Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, English speaker, +453393860