European Parliament resolution on the Kyoto Conference objectives
Date: 2001-04-05
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: air quality, climate change, environmental policy, environmental protection, reduction of gas emissions

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Thursday 5 April 2001

A.

B.

concerned that, having signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Inter-
national Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the People(cid:146)s Republic of China has still
not finalised the ratification and implementation processes,

concerned at the lack of respect for fundamental freedoms in China, including freedom of expression,
religion and association, at the ongoing violations of the human rights of pro-democracy activists and
proponents of free trade unions, and at the system of administrative detention, the situation with
regard to the human rights of prisoners, the cases of torture and the frequent use of the death penalty,

C.

concerned at the violation of religious and cultural rights in Tibet and Xinnjiang and Inner Mongolia,

D. deploring the fact that the decisions taken at the General Affairs Council of 19 March 2001 did not

fully take account of the requests of the European Parliament,

E.

stressing that the US has decided to table a draft resolution on Human Rights in China at the 57th
session of the UN Commission on Human Rights,

F. whereas the EU has a duty to promote, within the appropriate international bodies, any initiative
whose purpose is to denounce any violation of human rights in general and recourse to the death
penalty in particular,

1.
Urges the Member States to submit or co-sponsor with the United States a resolution, at the 57th
session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, deploring the state of human rights in the
People(cid:146)s Republic of China;

Asks the Presidency-in-Office to do its utmost to coordinate the Member States(cid:146) positions in line with

2.
this resolution;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the governments of the Member

3.
States and the UN Commission on Human Rights.

17. Kyoto Conference objectives

B5-0267, 0270, 0278, 0287 and 0295/2001

European Parliament resolution on the Kyoto Conference objectives

The European Parliament,

(cid:129) having regard to Articles 2 and 6 of the EC Treaty, according to which environmental protection
requirements must be integrated into Community sectoral policies with the aim of promoting environ-
mentally sustainable economic development,

(cid:129) having regard to the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

adopted at the Rio Earth Summit,

(cid:129) having regard to the December 1997 Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC,

(cid:129) having regard to the conclusions of the Environment Council held on 22 June 2000,

(cid:129) having regard to the sixth Conference of Parties (CPO6) held in The Hague in November 2000,

(cid:129) having regard to its resolutions relating to climate change of 9 February 1999 (1), 7 October 1999 (2)

and 26 October 2000 (3),

(1) OJ C 150, 28.5.1999, p. 59.
(2) OJ C 107, 13.4.2000, p. 112.
(3)
(cid:145)Texts Adopted(cid:146), Item 13.

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A. whereas climate change is manifestly one of the most alarming challenges facing the world at the
dawn of the 21st century; whereas a recent report by the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate
Change (a joint project of the United States(cid:146) Environmental Panel and the World Meteorological
Organisation) indicated that the earth(cid:146)s temperature would increase by between 1,4 and 5,8 (cid:176)C over
this century unless action is taken to tackle this phenomenon, which is mostly due to human activity;
whereas the same report stressed the catastrophic consequences of such a phenomenon, with a grow-
ing probability of typhoons and cyclones, while ice and snow cover is dramatically decreasing and sea
levels rising; whereas the situation is already appalling in some regions of the world, due to global
warming; whereas, in this context, it has now become of the utmost importance to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions, which are a major cause of global warming,

B. whereas the Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC is a key political instrument for any sustainable devel-
opment strategy in general and for a world strategy against global warming in particular; whereas its
ratification and implementation are priority issues; whereas it has to be ratified by 55 signatories
(out of 84 signatories) whose emissions account for at least 55 % of total carbon dioxide emissions
to enter into force,

C. whereas 38 industrialised countries, including the US, agreed in Kyoto to reduce their greenhouse gas
emissions by an average of 5,2 % by 2012 compared with the 1990 level; whereas the EU countries
are committed to an 8 % reduction and the United States to a 7 % reduction; whereas legally-binding
commitments should be assumed in all countries to this end; whereas Mr Prodi and Prime Minister
G(cid:246)ran Persson have called on President Bush to engage in a (cid:145)high-level dialogue(cid:146) between the EU and
US in order to resolve differences over the protocol,

D. whereas the 6th Conference of Parties in The Hague revealed many difficulties in the follow-up and

implementation of the Kyoto Protocol,

E. whereas the new US administration has rejected the Kyoto Protocol; whereas the President of the
United States, George W. Bush, has argued that the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol would
cost jobs and harm the US economy while developing countries would be exempted and excluded
from cleaning up the environment,

F. whereas the United States is responsible for about 25 % of total emissions of carbon dioxide, the main
pollutant covered by the Kyoto Protocol; whereas there are big differences in the per capita CO2
production of different countries: the average European produces 10 tons of CO2 per year, the average
American 24 tons of CO2 per year, and developing countries are below the average; whereas a world-
wide per capita production of 1,7 tons would be the maximum allowable to stop global warming,

G. whereas the UN climate control protocol is a transparent mechanism for showing newly industrialis-
ing countries that industrialisation and environmental protection can, and indeed must, go hand in
hand,

Strongly condemns the decision taken by President George W. Bush not to implement the Kyoto
1.
Protocol on global warming; emphasises that this unilateral decision endangers the whole Kyoto process
and threatens climate disaster; considers that this decision is a very bad political signal for EU/USA
relations and dialogue; welcomes the European Council declaration in Stockholm on climate change and
in particular the recognition of (cid:145)climate change as a global threat to future well-being and economic pro-
gress(cid:146);

2.
Shares the view of the Swedish Presidency, which described the US move as (cid:145)appalling and pro-
vocative(cid:146); associates itself with the protests of numerous governments and environmental NGOs in the
world;

Is appalled that the long-term interests of the majority of the world(cid:146)s population are being sacrificed

3.
for the sake of short-term corporate greed in the US;

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4.
Recalls that President Clinton signed the Protocol in 1998 and calls therefore on the present US
administration to engage in constructive dialogue with the EU so that the 2002 implementation date can
be respected;

Thursday 5 April 2001

5.
Considers that the Kyoto Protocol remains the cornerstone of a world strategy against global war-
ming and that any alternative plan would postpone the whole process for years, with incalculable con-
sequences, and stresses that the new American approach will condemn the USA to environmental iso-
lationism;

6.
Contests the US administration(cid:146)s arguments and stresses that the Kyoto Protocol must be perceived as
part of a global sustainable development strategy, which in no way contradicts economic development and
employment; considers that sustainable development strategies and the rational use of natural resources
enhance economic growth in the medium and long term;

7.
Emphasises that the struggle against global warming is a matter of solidarity between developed and
developing countries; therefore welcomes the unanimous condemnation of the US by the EU, China and
Japan; recalls that the recent Inter-Governmental Experts Group on Climate Change pointed out that those
countries which have access to the most limited resources are also those whose capacity to adapt is
weakest and are therefore the most vulnerable to global warming and its adverse effects; considers that
therefore, developed countries, including the United States of America, have an important responsibility
and must play a leading role in the effective reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; recalls that in its
abovementioned resolution of 26 October 2000, the European Parliament called (cid:145)on the contracting
parties to adopt further ambitious reduction targets as quickly as possible, particularly for the industrialised
countries(cid:146);

8.
Stresses furthermore that sustainable development is a matter of solidarity between generations;
it would be socially and humanly irresponsible to squander the heritage of energy resources and a sound
environment to which our descendants will rightfully lay claim;

9.
Considers that, regarding the aim of preventing global warming, it is essential during the COP6A to
achieve a successful outcome in time to ratify and implement the Kyoto Protocol by 2002 and therefore
supports all initiatives taken by the Council and the Commission to this end;

Fully supports the declaration of the Stockholm Council which confirms a real European commit-

10.
ment to the Kyoto process and the ratification and implementation of the Protocol;

11.
Reiterates its determination that the EU and its Member States should implement without delay a
balanced set of policies and measures so that the EU can meet its Kyoto target, irrespective of any setbacks
in the negotiations;

Calls on the Commission and the Member States to maintain a leading role in the Kyoto process

12.
and to make the ratification process a success;

13.
Calls on the Commission and the Member States to take all necessary political and diplomatic
initiatives to put pressure on the US administration and urge it to reconsider its position on the Kyoto
Protocol; therefore welcomes and fully supports the efforts of the Commission and the Council to this end;

Urges the European Union negotiators to plan a quick ratification of the Protocol even without the

14.
USA, in the run-up to the COP6A before the Rio+10 conference in 2002;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the United Nations

15.
and the Government of the United States of America.