The main topic was how to resolve differences that prevented agreement last November in the Netherlands on implementing an international accord on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The next round of talks was to be held in Bonn, Germany, in May, but it now appears likely to be pushed back to July to give the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush time to become familiar with the issues, Anderson said. The meeting would be part of a series on implementation of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol which commits industrialized countries to reducing worldwide release of carbon- based gases to 5.2 percent below the 1990 levels by 2010. A key point of divergence is the U.S.-led group's proposal to subtract carbon dioxide absorbed by forests and farmland from their ascribed reduction quotas. The United States, Canada, Japan, Norway, Australia and New Zealand, known collectively as the Umbrella Group, also want to subtract carbon dioxide absorbed by forests that developed nations plant.
Some European governments oppose such credits.
The Europeans had their view, which was more restrictive. British Environment Minister Michael Meacher said Britain and other European countries are skeptical about the Umbrella Group's plan because of uncertainties about the degree of carbon absorption and the effect of forest fires. The fact that Bush has not yet named a U.S. environmental negotiator also impedes progress. A recent UNEP report predicts that, unless efforts are made to curb air pollution now, in 50 years, global warming will cost the world more than dlrs 300 billion annually. And while developed nations argue, concern grows elsewhere, particularly on island states.