Niall Andrews MEP was part of the EU delegation to the UN Climate Change Convention in New Delhi. He argues that pressure needs to be stepped up on those countries avoiding their global responsibilities
The Eighth Conference of the Parties to the UN Climate Change Convention (COP 8) ended earlier this month in New Delhi, India. Along with four other Members of the European Parliament, I participated in the convention as part of the EU Delegation. A total of 4,500 delegates from around 170 countries, which represent more than three-quarters of the world's population, took part.
The declaration adopted at the end of the meeting calls for all countries to ratify the Kyoto Protocol in the face of growing evidence of the damage done by climate change. My fear is that this call will fall on too many deaf ears. The third assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change shows clearly that most of the acceleration in global warming is man-made. Based on the disturbing evidence with which we were presented in New Delhi, much more direct and intensive action is required by the European Union.
One of the main causes of climate change is the increased emission of greenhouse gases, the most important of which is CO2 or carbon dioxide. About two-thirds of the increased concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is caused by burning fossil fuels, such as coal and oil. The rest is due to the destruction of tropical forests.
The EU can be proud of its own record as far as dealing with the global issue of climate change is concerned. The Kyoto Protocol was ratified by all of our member-states on May 31st this year. We have met our existing commitment under the UN Climate Convention to stabilise greenhouse gas emissions at 1990 levels.
European governments are putting in place a wide range of measures to ensure that we will meet the 8 per cent reduction commitment under the Kyoto Protocol. In the area of energy, it is essential to increase the contribution of alternative sources, such as wind, hydro and biomass. Similarly, great energy savings can be made by improved building construction methods.
A large part of CO2 emissions can be attributed to heating and hot-water systems in buildings. We must give financial incentives for the refitting of older buildings in a more energy-efficient way.
PROPER waste management strategies can also play a role. The separate collection of packaging and organic waste contributes to a reduction of greenhouse gases. Prohibiting landfill using untreated residential waste would dramatically reduce emissions. Rural development funding from agriculture can also be channelled into environmental and re-afforestation measures which contribute to the reductions needed.
So far 95 countries have ratified Kyoto. These countries represent 37 per cent of global emissions of greenhouse gases. They also represent two-thirds of the world's population. The reality is that we in the developed world are responsible for a disproportionate percentage of the emissions. We cannot continue to damage the global environment in this way. We must accept the responsibilities that go with the privilege of belonging to the rich industrial West.
Developing countries are most affected by climate change, as they have fewer resources to adapt to the changes that are occurring. I welcome the commitment confirmed by the EU at COP 8 to provide its share of $410 million of funding per year as from 2005 to support action in developing countries. We need to help these countries to build the capacity to deal with their own difficulties. Technology transfer should be strengthened, especially in the area of energy generation.
The EU was represented at the highest level at COP 8. Our delegation was headed by the Danish Environment Minister and the European Commission's Director General for Environment, Irishwoman Catherine Day. The world's largest producer of greenhouse gases, the United States, did not attend the meeting. One of the first acts of the newly elected President George W. Bush was to withdraw his country from the Kyoto Protocol.
Part of the work of the EU delegation in New Delhi was to lobby those countries which have not yet ratified in a series of bilateral meetings. The protocol cannot enter into force until countries accounting for at least 55 per cent of emissions have ratified.
The obstructionism of the US must not be allowed to scupper the whole project. Russia, for example, has expressed a political willingness to ratify and we must give them every support as well as technical assistance. Russia accounts for 17.4 per cent of global emissions and their signature would be vital, as it would allow us reach the 55 per cent threshold in one fell swoop.
Extreme weather conditions such as regional droughts, avalanche and flood disasters have increased considerably. Such events demonstrate dramatically how vulnerable human societies are to climate change. Adverse impacts have caused thousands of human casualties and billions of euros in damage.
Science tells us that these events are likely to become more frequent and intense in many areas as the climate warms. We need to act together in the international community to deal with this global threat.