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Kyoto thrives in Montreal despite last minute game of Russian roulette
Government leaders in Montreal today (Saturday 10th December
2005) reached a historic agreement on future action to tackle
climate change. The Montreal Action Plan (MAP) was concluded
despite a last minute intervention from Russia which almost
resulted in deadlock.
Negotiators worked through Friday night to reach a progressive
agreement under the Kyoto Protocol, which will lead to deeper
emissions cuts in the next commitment period, which starts in
2013. This Kyoto deal initiates crucial negotiations on
legally binding targets for industrialised countries and also
sets in motion a wider review of the entire regime involving
all countries, due to be discussed at talks next year.
Agreement was also reached under the UN Framework Convention
on Climate Change (UNFCCC) despite the reluctance of the
United States administration, which put forward new text to
weaken the deal.
Friends of the Earth International Vice Chair Tony Juniper
said:
"Despite Russia's attempt to wreck the deal, this meeting has
made a historic agreement which will strengthen global resolve
with legally-binding targets to take action to tackle climate
change under the Kyoto Protocol. It has sent a clear signal
that the future lies in cleaner and more sustainable
technologies and is good news for people everywhere.
"We expected progress under the Convention, but the US
administration effectively forced the rest of the world to
bend over backwards to keep them on board. The result is a
very weak deal."
Friends of the Earth International Climate Change Campaigner
Catherine Pearce said:
"Scientific evidence clearly demands urgent action to cut the
pollution that is warming our world. The international
community has wisely taken these warnings seriously by
agreeing to further action. This is a clear signal that the
Kyoto agreement is alive and well. Leaders have shown that
much-needed progress can be made. The Government of Canada
deserves real praise for the role it played in making the
Montreal meeting a success."
Late night drama (Thursday) saw the United States delegation
leave the talks, in an effort to collapse negotiations under
both the UN Framework Convention and the Kyoto Protocol. On
Friday further attempts to block progress saw the United
States delegation table new draft text, further diluting the
meaning of the deal.
But strong leadership from the Canadian President and clear
resolve from other countries, including Britain, Japan and
major developing countries, particularly Brazil and South
Africa, made progress possible.
Countries signed up to the Kyoto Protocol (all major
industrialised and developing countries, except the USA and
Australia) have agreed to ensure new targets on cuts in
greenhouse gas emissions will be in place to immediately
follow the first commitment phase in 2012.
Rules governing the Kyoto Protocol's operation (the Marrakesh
Accords) were agreed in Montreal, including the legally
binding nature of the regime. Countries also agreed to a
review of both the Kyoto Protocol and Framework Convention to
start next year.
An agreement was also reached on reform of the "Clean
Development Mechanism" (the mechanism allowing industrialised
countries to claim carbon credits by investing in clean energy
projects in the developing world). But concerns remain about
what this includes and what will be delivered.
Notes:
Images of Friends of the Earth International's Climate Mosaic,
on display outside the Palais des Congres, can be downloaded
at www.foei.org and
www.foe.co.uk/resource/images/cop11_montreal
Contacts:
Catherine Pearce, Friends of the Earth International
in Montreal: + 1 347 992 2505
(english)
Jan Kowalzig, Friends of the Earth Europe
in Montreal: +1-917-7095463 (mobile)
(english/german)
Markus Steigenberger, Friends of the Earth Germany (BUND)
in Montreal: +1-514-578 56 19 (mobile)
(english/german)
Donald Pols, Friends of the Earth Netherlands (Milieudefensie)
in Montreal: +31-6-208 010 96 (mobile)
(english/dutch)
Lauri Myllyvirta, Friends of the Earth Finland (Maan Ystävät)
in Montreal: +1-514-578 56 19 (mobile)
(english/finnish)
Friends of the Earth Europe campaigns for sustainable and fair societies and for the protection of the environment,
unites more than 30 national organisations with thousands of local groups
and is part of the world's largest grassroots environmental network, Friends of the Earth International.
