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friday, 20 july
2001
progress of negotiations
On the fifth day of the talks, there are some
tentative signs of progress. The European
Union and G77 group in particular seem to be
drawing closer together on key issues,
starting with the key issue of finance.
The group on funding has agreed to the
setting up of the Adaptation Fund, but
questions remain about who will contribute,
whether contributions are mandatory and even
if they are mandatory, whether there will be
penalties for non-payment! The Special
Climate Change Fund is less certain, with
Ministers still to decide whether it should
go ahead and whether it should be managed by
the GEF.
The negotiating group on compliance issues
has boiled the issues down to two key issues
for Ministers to resolve - the consequences
to be applied and the composition of the
compliance committee. The consequences
options still include an option for sanctions
that are not legally binding. On technology
transfer, issues outstanding are the amount
of money involved and the nature the expert
group that would be required. G77 countries
want the group to consist of Government
representatives, industrialised countries
prefer a group of technical experts.
A key question remains whether Japan will
agree to ratify the Kyoto Protocol without US
involvement. There has been a three-way
division inside the Japanese Government
between the Foreign Ministry - concerned
about US-Japanese relations, the Environment
Ministry - supporting ratification, and the
Industry Ministry - taking a traditional
pro-fossil fuel business line. Environment
Minister Kawaguchi insists that she has a
full mandate to reach agreement in Bonn.
Yesterday she stated Japan's commitment to
ratification in 2002, and this message was
explicitly confirmed by Prime Minister
Koizumi yesterday at the G8 summit in
Genoa.
The Expanded Bureau (the Chairman's
steering committee for the talks) decided
this morning on the process for completing
the negotiations. They have established a
group of 35 ministers representing the
regional groupings, chaired by President
Pronk and reporting each day to plenary
sessions. The group has the power to set up
smaller contact groups on issues as
appropriate. The Bureau has also decided to
set up a new subject group to negotiate rules
on monitoring, verification and
compliance.
New Zealand and Norway have broken with
the Umbrella Group of countries in strongly
opposing the inclusion of nuclear power in
the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and
Joint Implementation (JI). So far, these
countries have been supported by the EU,
under pressure from anti-nuclear countries
such as Austria, Belgium, Germany, and
Greece. However, concern remains that the EU
may make concessions on this point,
particularly in order to retain support for
the Protocol from Russia. The EU and Russia
have been in detailed discussions about a
Green Investment Scheme, to receive the
proceeds of Russia's emissions trading,
including any trading between Russia and
parties which do not ratify the Kyoto
Protocol. The Russian energy sector requires
investment of at least $40 billion over the
next five years and up to $500 billion by
2020. It appears, however, that nuclear
projects could be included under those
eligible for funding from the scheme, which
would be managed by an autonomous
Environmental Investment Agency governed by a
board composed of the Economy and Development
Ministry, the Finance Ministry and the
Natural Resources Ministry.
Weak rules are being discussed for
Environmental Impact Assessments for projects
under the CDM. There are no common criteria
suggested for these assessments; it would be
left to the host country for the projects to
conduct them according to their own
procedures. As yet, there are no rules
requiring public participation in the
assessments.
Commenting on the progress of the talks,
Friends of the Earth Environment Campaigner
Kate Hampton said:
"The chances of a positive outcome in Bonn
have risen somewhat over the last few days.
The Japanese Government seems to have
realised that it cannot afford to be seen as
the wreckers of the Kyoto Protocol. New
Zealand and Norway are beginning to
differentiate themselves from the rest of the
Umbrella Group.
It may be that politicians are beginning
to realize the extent of public anger that
would follow a failure in Bonn. We hope and
demand that countries still trying to weaken
the Protocol will stop their destructive
behaviour and work in good faith to reach
agreement."
message from foe australia
While the official Australian delegation
obstructs progress on the Kyoto Protocol,
environmental and social justice groups will
hold a variety of actions and street theatre
events around the country this Sunday, July
22nd to call attention to Australia's dismal
performance.
From the Climate Ark and flotilla in
Melbourne to the "Other Umbrella Group"
meeting in Adelaide, the message will be the
same: Australia should commit to a fair and
equitable Kyoto Protocol. A recent survey
showed that 80% of Australians want the Kyoto
Protocol ratified without the United States
if necessary. The impacts of climate change
are one of the biggest threats facing our
nearest neighbours in the South Pacific and
other vulnerable non-industrialised countries
around the world.
Contact: Bruce Thompson, Friends of the
Earth Australia, 00 61 417 318 368
Contact:
Ian Willmore 0174 160 4808 or 00 44 7887 641
344
Howard Mollett 00 41 792 160 206
Daniel Mittler (Lifeboat) 0173 923 4747
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