WRITTEN QUESTION E-0631/02 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. The Commission's position on the US President's attitude to the emission of gases into the atmosphere.
Date: 2002-03-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: United States, industrial pollution, international convention, pollution control measures, reduction of gas emissions, sustainable development

C 277 E/68

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.11.2002

(2002/C 277 E/072)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0631/02

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(6 March 2002)

Subject: The Commission’s position on the US President’s attitude to the emission of gases into the

atmosphere

What is the Commission’s position, in the context of the Kyoto Agreeements upheld by the EU, on the
recent proposals made by the US President, George Bush, to reduce his country’s emission of gases into the
atmosphere?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(30 April 2002)

The plan for a climate change policy put forward by President Bush is purely of a domestic nature. It may
represent a first step in the right direction, where economic operators in the United States are asked to
contribute to emission control. It is not seen as an alternative to the Kyoto Protocol to which the Union
and other Parties remain fully committed. The Protocol is the only effective international framework for
combating global warming and the Commission urges the United States to return to the Kyoto process.

The Commission has carefully analysed the details of President Bush’s proposals, in particular the unilateral
greenhouse gas intensity target. Its concern is that they will not lead to a reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions but allow a significant increase of some 30 % above the 1990 level in 2012. As a consequence,
the United States will not meet the objective of the Framework Convention on Climate Change that it has
ratified for developed country parties to stabilise their greenhouse gas emissions at 1990 levels. Achieving
this would only be a first step towards stabilising global greenhouse gas concentrations at a level that
would prevent further global warming. This is the ultimate objective of the Convention to which the
United States has subscribed.

Avoiding global warming requires reductions in emissions. Even the targets in the Kyoto Protocol are only
a first step to prevent the consequences that climate change could have. The challenge of sustainable
development is to protect the environment, while ensuring economic growth.

Global warming is a worldwide problem and should therefore be tackled internationally, on the basis of
the very important work carried out by the international community. The United States, as the biggest
emitter of greenhouse gases, should live up to their responsibility under the Convention and make
reduction efforts comparable to those undertaken in other parts of the world in the context of the Kyoto
Protocol. The Union has already reduced its emissions below 1990 levels and is committed to meet the
Kyoto target of an 8 % reduction by 2008-2012.

(2002/C 277 E/073)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0632/02

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council

Subject: Militaristic tendencies on the part of the United States

(6 March 2002)

We all feel unequivocal sympathy for the victims, and US society in general, following the appalling
attacks of 11 September. However, we cannot but reject the militaristic tendencies of the US government
which, instead of eliminating international terrorism, may cause greater evil and by taking unilateral action
introduce highly dangerous elements contrary to the quest for world peace. These elements may even
destabilise the EU and its role in world politics.

What steps is the Council taking to resist the temptations of militarism offered by the United States?