| 10/12/2005
- Real progress was made at the Montreal climate talks as
governments finalized the ground rules for the first phase
of the Kyoto Protocol and set the stage for discussions
to further cut carbon emissions after 2012. “Common
sense won the day when ministers agreed to start the talks
about future reductions in carbon pollution,” says Jennifer
Morgan, Director of WWF’s Global Climate Change Programme.
“People know that the Kyoto Protocol is the only viable
approach to combat climate change and the Montreal meeting
has successfully moved that process forward.”
Ministers at the Montreal climate
conference agreed early in the morning on Saturday to
start the talks that will deliver the deeper reductions
of carbon emissions that WWF has been promoting. The deal
also opened the door to broader participation from developing
countries in the future.
The Montreal Conference displayed
the groundswell of support for real climate action. This
was especially visible through the participation of an
unparalleled number of mayors, youth, business leaders
and elected representatives. The attempt by the US, and
later Russia, to scupper the talks failed when a broad
coalition including major developing countries, Japan,
Canada and the EU rebuffed it.
“The planet is the clear winner, despite
tremendous pressure first from the US administration,
then from Russia, to slow down progress in curbing global
warming,” says Jennifer Morgan. “Climate change is real,
the solutions are here, and it is time for the world to
take firm collective action.”
“Having successfully hosted the climate
talks Canada must now continue with its extraordinary
effort as caretaker to the Kyoto process to ensure that
the Montreal momentum translates into real results for
the global climate,” says Julia Langer, Director of WWF-Canada’s
Global Threats Programme.
Kyoto Parties must now redouble their
efforts to meet their targets, as with 157 countries now
signed up to the Protocol, carbon markets are a reality.
“More and more companies are committing
to real climate action and the pressure is mounting on
the laggards to get in line with the way the world is
moving,” says Jennifer Morgan. “The decision in Montreal
to move forward strengthens the efforts of countries,
companies and cities in the US that are acting to reduce
carbon pollution now.” |
