Friends of the Earth Europe

Brussels/Bonn, August 6 – International climate negotiations ended today with Friends of the Earth Europe criticising Europe and other rich industrialised countries for trying to avoid making any emission reductions.

Research released during the latest talks in Bonn, Germany shows how a number of serious loopholes in the Kyoto Protocol seriously threaten efforts to tackle global warming. The loopholes could be used by the European Union, and other countries with historical responsibility for climate change, to maintain current emissions levels. Together they more than outweigh the reductions in greenhouse gas emissions pledged in Copenhagen last year. [1]

David Heller, climate campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe, said: “It’s outrageous that loopholes in the targets mean Europe won’t even fulfil the commitment it has made to an inadequate 20% reduction in emissions by 2020. The massive amount of offsetting allowed in the agreement cancels out all meaningful reductions. Developed countries must stop hiding behind technicalities in the negotiations and close these loopholes. Europe must commit to 40% emissions cuts by 2020 without offsetting.”

For the EU, the biggest risk is access to international offsetting where developed countries buy carbon credits from developing countries to avoid cutting emissions themselves. Offsetting could account for up to half of the target for the industry and power sector covered by Europe's emissions trading scheme. It could be as much as two thirds of emissions reductions for other sectors.

NOTES:

[1] For a detailed assessment of the current round of UNFCCC talks in Bonn, including a summary of the loopholes, please see the briefing here.

See also presentations made to the UNFCCC conference by Stockholm Environment Institute: http://unfccc.int/files/essential_background/library/application/pdf/awg_southcentre.pdf

and Third World Network: http://unfccc.int/files/kyoto_protocol/application/pdf/twn_notes.pdf