EU LEADERSHIP NEEDED NOW TO SAVE KYOTO PROTOCOL

30 March 2001

Amsterdam - Greenpeace today called for decisive and strong leadership from the European Union to rescue the Kyoto Protocol on climate change after President Bush expressed his lack of support. EU Environment Ministers meeting this weekend have the first opportunity to set the direction for ratification minus the USA.

Greenpeace International Climate Policy Director Mr. Bill Hare said that so far the EU has focused on trying to change the mind of US President George W. Bush, but this looks increasingly futile in the wake of yesterday's meeting with Germany's Chancellor Schroeder where Bush steadfastly refused to support the Protocol.

"The EU needs to focus now on ratifying the Kyoto Protocol itself and build a global coalition to ratify the Protocol without the United States. The EU Ministers meeting this weekend in Sweden must develop a concrete plan for ratification of the Kyoto Protocol by the end of this year so that the protocol can enter into force in 2002 without the USA," said Hare.

Greenpeace expressed grave concern that US global warming policy now appears to be totally run by large US companies such Exxon, Texaco, Chevron and along with coal interests. Hare said "The shocking and unprecedented trashing of the most important global environmental agreement ever has confirmed our worst fears that the White House has been colonized by oil and coal companies."

Hare said that assertions that the Kyoto Protocol is dead if the US does not ratify (as for example claimed by the Australian Environment Minister Hill) were not correct. The Kyoto Protocol needs the European Union, most Central and East European Countries, Japan and Russia to ratify for it to enter into force.

"European Union leadership is critical to securing this combination of countries ratifying the Kyoto Protocol so that it can enter into force by 2002".

Global opposition to Bush's position on the Kyoto Protocol and climate change is mounting.

The Japanese Environment Minister says Japan is very concerned at the White House announcement but will go ahead and ratify by 2002. Tokyo Electric Power Company, President, Mr. Minami has stated that it is "unacceptable for the US to get out of the protocol" and that "If the US is to gain more competitiveness as a result of getting out of the Protocol, other nations have to take actions such as sanction or boycotting of US products" (source Nikkei News).

The New Zealand Government has expressed grave disappointment at the US announcements but will go ahead and ratify by 2002 without the USA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

- Bill Hare +49 170 905 7015
- Susan Cavanagh +31 6 212 969 10

www.greenpeace.org/~climate/climatecountdown