Kyoto Countries take vital step towards agreeing longer term targets
Bonn, Germany May 25, 2006 - The Parties to the Kyoto Protocol have taken
the first step towards agreeing new and deeper cuts in Co2 emissions for the period after Kyoto's first commitment
period ends in 2012. At a meeting late last night in Bonn, delegates agreed a 'programme of work' for the next
six months which will get them one step closer to agreeing a post-2012 climate regime.
"We haven't saved the planet here in Bonn", said Bill Hare of Greenpeace,
"but we have taken a step forward. Now countries are going to have to up
their game substantially in the next year in order to agree the cuts that
will be necessary to avoid dangerous climate change."
The six month programme covers the period between now and the 12th
Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, and the 2nd Conference of the parties / Meeting of the Parties to the protocol
which will take place in Nairobi in November. Although it doesn't cover everything that needs to be discussed, it does
mean that negotiations will be looking at the level of emission reduction required in the near future, and different
scenarios looking at how to get there.
"Nairobi will be crucial", said Hare. "We have to start addressing the
challenge in concrete terms, and looking at ways to reduce industrialized
country emissions by at least 30% by 2020". "We also need to look at
broadening the discussions to include all aspects of the future climate
regime".
Ends