Bangkok--Oct 4--Greenpeace
Greenpeace welcomed the news that the Russian Government has given the green light to the climate change treaty, the Kyoto Protocol today (1).
The final decision on whether Russia will ratify the treaty now rests
with the Duma. If it votes in favour, the Kyoto Protocol will enter into force and become international law (2).
"Developing countries in Southeast Asia are some of the most vulnerable to the severe impacts of climate change, and yet are least able to cope. The potential economic, environmental and social effects on Asian peoples' livelihoods and sustainability from extreme weather events alone are projected to reach devastating proportions.
Hence for the most vulnerable and poorer countries, this announcement
is more than welcome. This is about our survival, this is about our sustainable future," said Athena Ronquillo-Ballesteros, Regional Policy Advisor for Asia at Greenpeace International.
"As the Earth is battered by increasing storms, floods and droughts,
President Putin has brought us to a pivotal point in human history.
We are now on the brink of securing the Kyoto Protocol. The Bush
Administration is out in the cold and the rest of the world can move forward as one to start tackling climate change, the greatest threat to civilisation the world has ever seen," said Greenpeace International climate campaigner, Steve Sawyer.
The United States of America emits one fifth of the world's
greenhouse gases, yet the Bush Administration has refused to support efforts to combat climate change. Unless the United States ratifies the Kyoto Protocol, the targets will not be fully achieved. The largest contributor to greenhouse gases is carbon dioxide, emitted when coal, oil and gas are burned.
"The entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol will signal a significant
step towards deeper cuts and a change in the way we use energy.
Greenpeace is hoping that this political development will allow
climate friendly, clean, renewable energy technologies to prosper and compete effectively with conventional fossil fuel sources. With the right political framework, Asia can avoid the mistakes of the industrialized countries and not lock ourselves in a polluting carbonbased energy path. We can then leapfrog straight into the renewables age," added Ballesteros.
Notes to Editors:
(1) The Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the first global response to tackling global warming. As of July 29th2004, the treaty had been ratified by 124 countries.Under the Kyoto Protocol, industralised countries, responsible for 55 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, are bound to cut emissions of a basket of six greenhouse gases by just over 5% for the period 2008-2012.
(2) If the Russian Duma votes in favour of the Kyoto Protocol,
Russia will then submit an instrument of ratification the United Nations in New York. Ninety days after the submission, the Kyoto Protocol will become international law.
For more information contact:
Greenpeace International climate campaigner, Steve Sawyer
+31653504715
Athena Ronquillo-Ballesteros, Regional Policy Advisor for Asia,
+63917 8131562
Arthur Jones Dionio, Regional Media Campaigner, +661 9254835
See www.greenpeace.org
Arthur Jones Dionio
Regional Media Campaigner
Greenpeace Southeast Asia
Tel: +661 9254835
Fax: +662 2714243 End.
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