167 governments will convene in Kyoto for the Third Conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. In the US since 1991, oil and gas interests alone have donated 53.4 million dollars to candidates and their parties. During the 1995-6 period, the Clinton administration has failed to support strong international targets to cut CO2 emissions, despite promises made by former President George Bush at the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992. The Cypriot government has just ratified the United Nations convention on climate change. Greenpeace welcomes this action and hopes that it will be the first positive step toward the reduction in the emissions of greenhouse gases in Cyprus.
Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing the world in the next century.
Independent scientists noted that the continued rise of CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere would lead to dangerous interference with the climate system. This will lead to more and stronger storms, floods and droughts as well as to extensive ecosystem damage. The Mediterranean region will also be effected. Climate change will threaten food production, sustainable development and natural ecosystems. The economies of these countries are the least capable of dealing with the high and unpredictable costs of the expected large-scale destructive natural disasters and their effects.