17/05/2005 - WWF welcomes
the leadership of a number of countries at
the Seminar of Governmental Experts held in
Bonn, especially developing countries such
as South Africa, Argentina and Mexico, to
move the international negotiations forward
to begin discussing next steps under the Kyoto
Protocol.
Over the two days of the Seminar a number
of countries spoke of the urgency of climate
change and the need to begin negotiating formally
in Montreal at the First Meeting of the Kyoto
Protocol this November. Of particular interest
were the interventions by China, South Africa
and Brazil which all spoke of the actions
they are taking to increase energy efficiency
and renewables and showing significant openness
to discuss a way forward. South Africa and
others specifically called for a Montreal
Mandate to be concluded in November.
“This is a baby step, but an important one,
to agreeing the deeper cuts of CO2 that are
necessary to avoid the worst impacts of climate
change,” said Jennifer Morgan, Director WWF’s
Global Climate Change Programme. “Once again
it is crystal clear that the Bush administration
is living on another planet as far as climate
change is concerned. WWF calls on Kyoto countries
to work towards the adoption of a Montreal
Mandate in November.”
Key topics for discussion over the two days
included how to meet the world’s energy needs
more sustainably to avoid the impacts of climate
change, how to manage the impacts that are
already occurring and will increase, and the
necessity of adequate support to developing
countries for both reducing emissions and
adapting to climate change.
“A Montreal Mandate is what is needed to
send a clear signal to governments, businesses
and the public worldwide that governments
are taking their responsibilities seriously
and will ensure that deeper cuts of CO2 are
on the way,” concluded Morgan.
