June 2006
Talks On Further Cuts In Emissions Under Kyoto Protocol
Delegates at a recent United Nations sponsored conference on climate change in Bonn, Germany, have agreed to pursue negotiations on further cuts in greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol after the first commitment period between 2008 and 2012.
Officials who participated in the Bonn talks described the meeting as "successful" and said it had set an "ambitious agenda" which focuses on a sound process leading towards science-based emission reduction targets on the part of industrialised countries within the next few years.
Michael Zammit Cutajar, who chairs one of the working groups under the Kyoto Protocol, said, "There is a strong sense of urgency and there’s a clear consensus that there should be no gap after 2012 when the first commitment period ends."
The Kyoto Protocol requires 36 industrial countries to reduce to reduce greenhouse gas emissions below levels specified for each of them. Overall, this should amount to reductions of at least 5% below 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012.
Richard Kinley, acting head of the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat said: "Developing countries, which will be hit hardest by climate change, are pushing for rapid agreement on deeper emission cuts.
"Industrialized countries have emphasised the importance of these negotiations being based on the latest scientific data and taking into account new technological solutions available today" said Feng Gao, UNFCCC Deputy Executive Secretary, Implementation.
The next rounds of negotiations under Kyoto Protocol and talks under the Convention will take place at a United Nations Climate Change Conference from 6 to 17 November in Nairobi, Kenya.
If the Kyoto targets are only the first step toward further cuts, it is important ask what the UK Government is doing about planned further reductions in greenhouse gas emissions?
The Government is expected to achieve its Kyoto target of a 12.5% reduction in the emissions of six greenhouse gases over 1990 levels. However, whether they will achieve their own commitment to cut CO2 emissions by 20% by 2010 compared to 1990 levels is not so clear at present. The Government’s 2006 Climate Change Programme includes policies to hopefully put the UK back on track to achieving the 20% target but many critics are not optimistic. This will put further pressure on the Government if and when further cuts in emissions are announced at international level.
It is not only Government’s who should be planning for the future, businesses should be planning now for the impact climate change may have on them. If your business needs advice on dealing with energy and climate issues, please contact Nersi Salehi on 01788 538 150.
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