(15/02/05) Europese Groenen vieren Kyoto met 'wereldklimaatdag'

• 2005-02-15

Kyoto Protocol enters into force:
European Greens celebrate first step to halt climate change

On the eve of the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol, the Greens in the European Parliament and 19 European Green parties* have issued a declaration stressing the importance of this first international treaty requiring the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and asking the EU to take up its climate change responsibilities and reduce emissions.

The declaration affirms that eight years after the Kyoto Protocol was adopted, this treaty can be counted as a historic success for the planet. They also propose that 16 February be declared "world climate day."

The European Greens say that this is only a first step towards halting climate change. They demand the immediate implementation of the Kyoto Protocol and urge the EU to fix short- and medium-term mandatory greenhouse gas reduction targets for itself; a reduction of 30% by 2020 (compared to the 1990 level) and at least 80% by 2050. The European Greens also want 25% of EU energy consumption to come from renewable sources by 2020.

In celebration of this important step, the European Greens will hold a short demonstration at 12.30 tomorrow (Wednesday, 16 February 2005) in Rond Point Schuman, Brussels. A delegation of Green MEPs and activists will depart from the European Parliament on Rue Wiertz at 12.00, carrying green umbrellas printed with the slogan "STOP CLIMATE CHANGE!"

For more information on climate change

The full declaration follows.

Green parties that have so far signed up to the declaration:
ALTERNATTIVA DEMOKRATIKA - Malta
BUNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN - Germany
COMHAONTAS GLAS - Ireland
CYPRUS GREEN PARTY - Cyprus
DE GROENEN - the Netherlands
DEÍ GRÉNG - Luxembourg
DIE GRÜNEN - Austria
ECOLO - Belgium
EESTI ROHELISED - Estonia
FEDERAZIONE DEI VERDI - Italy
GREEN PARTY OF ENGLAND AND WALES
GROEN! - Belgium
GROENLINKS - the Netherlands
LES VERTS - France
LOS VERDES - Spain
MILJÖPARTIET DE GRÖNA - Sweden
PRASSINI POLITIKI - Greece
STRANA ZELENYCH NA SLOVENSKU - Slovakia
VIHREÄ LIITTO - Finland

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Brussels, 15 February 2005

The birth of Kyoto
The European Greens celebrate the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol

Eight years after the Kyoto Protocol was agreed, the first international treaty requiring industrial countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions becomes law on 16 February 2005. This is a historic moment for the world because it paves the way for a global policy on what could be the biggest challenge to humanity in the 21st Century. On this historic day, we, the European Greens, call for:

- Immediate action!

Emissions from the world's industrialised nations have accumulated in the atmosphere over the past 150 years. We are already beginning to witness the consequences in the form of droughts, heat waves, the melting of the polar ice sheet, and extreme weather around the globe. If the rate at which we are producing pollution continues at current levels, climate change may become something we entirely lose control of in as little as ten years time. Ambitious solutions are needed and are needed now. Because of their high per-capita emission rates industrialised countries must lead the way in reducing emissions. This is the precondition for a fair deal with emerging economies.

- The EU to deliver

The Kyoto Protocol's entry into force is one of the most important successes of EU diplomacy. But in order to remain credible the EU must show it is able to meet its target to reduce emissions by 8% during the first 'commitment period' (2008 – 2012). The laws necessary to achieve this have been prepared but the EU Institutions and national governments must take their full responsibilities and:

x Adopt ambitious binding targets for energy efficiency

x Cut harmful subsidies in the aviation sector and introduce an international kerosene tax

x Introduce maximum fuel emission levels for cars and a Europe-wide toll system for lorries

x Make sure that future tradable CO2 certificates better respect the 'polluter pays' principle

x Implement existing climate-friendly technologies as well as investing in new 'eco-technologies'

The targets set in Kyoto end in 2012, therefore international discussions on what happens after this first commitment period must begin this year. We must find a global solution which can guarantee that global warming does not exceed 2°C above pre-industrial temperatures. The EU must show leadership now and implement the target of reducing emissions by 30% before 2020 and by at least 80% before 2050. The early phase-out of nuclear power will liberate capital for real alternatives.

President Bush withdrew US signature of the Kyoto Protocol and has refused to take any real action to curb US emissions. The US government's response is irresponsible and must in no way be used by Europe as an excuse to delay action. If this situation creates market distortions through unfair competition, the EU should not be afraid to introduce a Kyoto 'non-compliance complaint' against the US in the WTO. The EU could create CO2 border taxes on products coming from industrialised countries that have not ratified the Kyoto agreement to ensure European business is not at a disadvantage against free-riding businesses.

- Action at all levels

Action at a local level is crucial to greening public procurement and private consumption as well as improving energy efficiency in buildings and reducing transport emissions. Urgent measures are also needed to curb emissions from internal EU flights and to make sure that international aviation and shipping are part of future global emission reductions. We also need better interaction not just between EU and national governments but also between local and regional policy makers.

- A world climate day

The challenge of climate change can only be successfully tackled if all levels of society – citizens, schools, businesses, administrations – know about both the problem and the solutions. Every year the 16th of February should be dedicated to mark the first step in the global fight against climate change – the birth of Kyoto – and should be used to focus attention on the vast amount of work that remains to be done.