Translating positive words into positive action to reduce global warming

Posted on February, 16 2007

The announcement by legislators from the top polluting countries that negotiations for the next round of emission cuts should end no later than 2009 is a positive development in the battle to slow global warming.

Gland, Switzerland – The announcement by legislators from the top polluting countries in the world that negotiations for the next round of emission cuts should end no later than 2009 is a positive development in the battle to slow global warming, says WWF.

"The conclusions of the meeting may be voluntary and not legally binding but they are still important in building confidence between the industrialised and the biggest developing economies," says Hans Verolme, Director of WWF's Global Climate Change Programme.

"It is also an indication that the US is readying itself to take its historical responsibility as seriously as Europe and Japan are already doing."

The global conservation organization welcomed the meeting of G8 legislators along with parliamentarians from the five biggest developing economies (Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa) as it showed clear support from developing states for making a real contribution to the climate talks by voluntary actions that reduce dependence on imported energy and polluton for their own countries.

The meeting, convened in Washington DC by US Senators John McCain and Joseph Lieberman, sets the scene for legally binding negotiations in December this year in Bali, Indonesia, under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol.

The negotiations in Bali will determine how 190 countries can reach a global deal to limit CO₂ emissions further, after the first phase of the Kyoto Protocol expires by end 2012.

WWF wants the positive statements made at the Washington meeting to translate into action.

The EU should decide at its spring Council meeting (8–9 March 2007) to set a target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent by 2020.

G8 heads of state should publicly support a mandate for all 190 UN countries to negotiate similarly deep emission cuts for all industrialised countries. They also should agree on massive financial and clean technology support for developing countries.

For further information:
Brian Thomson, Press Officer
WWF International
Tel: +41 22 364 9562
Email bthomson@wwfint.org

Martin Hiller, Communications Manager
WWF Global Climate Change Programme
Tel: +41 22 364 9019
Email mhiller@wwfint.org

WWF points out that the over-exploitation of fossil fuels - such as coal, gas and oil - is putting the whole of humanity under threat from climate change.