Posted
01st July 2001
NZ Climate Friendly
Greenpeace observers attending the climate talks in the Hague
over the past two days, said that generally New Zealand had
taken a constructive role. "However New Zealand's negotiating
allies Canada and Australia have taken seriously regressive
positions, for example they are trying to resurrect the inclusion
of nuclear energy in the Kyoto talks", said Bill Hare, Greenpeace
Climate Policy Director.
In
March this year Bush announced that the USA was withdrawing
from the Kyoto Protocol, turning its back on 10 years of work
by the nations of the world to prevent global warming. It was
reported from the meeting at the Hague that the USA has been
on the verge of obstructing progress, contrary to President
Bush's promise to EU leaders in Gothenberg two weeks ago. "Japan
is also trying to seek more concessions at the talks in the
Hague so threatening the future of the Kyoto Protocol. Unless
Japan comes to its senses, it could sink the Kyoto Protocol
negotiations in Bonn in two weeks time", said Hare.
At
the conclusion of these 'informal' climate talks in the Hague
on the future of Kyoto Protocol, it is clear that Australia,
Canada and Japan have taken up very regressive positions, particularly
on the question of CO2 sinks. Australia and Canada want virtually
unlimited use of sink activities, and it was precisely these
demands which were one of the main causes for the collapse of
the COP6 negotiations at the Hague last year. While the EU appears
to have made substantial concessions, the reaction of these
countries has been to demand more. Hare said, "In the case of
Canada and Australia this indicates a lack of political will
to implement and ratify the Kyoto Protocol without the USA.
The
Japanese government clearly has not yet made a decision as to
whether it will ratify without the USA." "It is clear that the
US is increasingly isolated. Others in its "Umbrella Group",
such as Norway, New Zealand and Iceland have been generally
constructive. It is essential that New Zealand takes a strong
position immediately and recommits to ratifying the Kyoto Protocol,
with or without the USA. It must use its position in the JUSCANZ
group to encourage Japan to agree to ratify the Kyoto Protocol
without the USA", said Sue Connor, Greenpeace New Zealand climate
campaigner.
Japanese
Prime Minister Koizumi meets Mr Bush on the 30th of June, and
at that meeting he should tell the US that Japan will move forward
and ratify Kyoto without the USA. It would be unacceptable for
Japan to come to the negotiations in Bonn in two weeks time
without having made up its mind on this vital issue.
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