Kyoto Deal hope?

1 April 2008

A new proposal from Jan Pronk - President of the talks - could break the deadlock on the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol.

Mr Pronk has given us hope of a workable deal. Time is short but failure to deliver rules that enable countries to ratify the Protocol is not an option.

Kate Hampton,
Friends of the Earth International Climate Co-ordinator

Friends of the Earth believes it could form the basis of an agreement (though there are a number of weaknesses and loopholes) -

• Allows industrialised nations to rely heavily on so-called carbon sinks (using forests to soak up carbon dioxide) to meet targets, reducing the need for action at home to cut greenhouse gas emissions
• Appears to exclude nuclear power although the language is not clear
• Seeks to encourage small-scale green energy projects but the conditions proposed may mean that such projects may not be properly funded
• Says that the industrialised nations that pollute the most should act to reduce the difference between them and developing countries
• Fails to provide adequate funding for developing countries seeking to reduce their vulnerability to climate change.