Download also the pdf version of the letter

Brussels, 25th of February 2002

To: Environment Ministers of the European Union

Subject: Agree on unconditional ratification of the Kyoto Protocol by the entire EU

Dear Ministers,

when the EU Environment Council meets in Brussels next Monday, you will have one very straight-forward, but highly significant point on the agenda - the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol.
The proposed instrument prepared by the Commission repeats that it’s been a “longstanding objective of the EU (…) for the Protocol to enter into force in time for the World Summit on Sustainable Development in September 2002 in Johannesburg.” The summit will start in precisely six months from now, which means that there are less than three months left to act. Article 25 of the Kyoto Protocol stipulates a period of ninety days between the deposit of the last instrument of ratification which fulfils the necessary minimum threshold and the date of entry into force. The first of June should, therefore, see the delivery to the UN of the joint ratification documents by the European Community and all fifteen Member States. That means in practice, domestic ratification by the EU and all its Member States must be concluded by end of May latest. There is no time for delay!

The European Parliament signalled its overwhelming support for EU ratification of the Protocol with 540 against 4 votes on February 6th. It also reminded the Council that there should not be any changes to the existing burden-sharing agreement of 1998. We can only applaud this firm statement and reiterate its message very strongly. Bickering over the details of an old arrangement will have serious implications. Any delay in the foreseen procedure might seriously jeopardize the ongoing process and, therefore, the future of the Protocol. The crucial participation of other nations, particularly Japan and Russia, could be endangered.

We specifically call on the government of Denmark to not hold the entire EU ratification process hostage to their well-known issue of electricity trade adjustment in the base year of 1990. If this can not be overcome at next week’s Council, the conclusion must be that a country that once stood out in the forefront of combating climate change, is now prepared to torpedo the Burden Sharing agreement, the basis of joint EU climate policy under the Kyoto framework. NGOs therefore call on all Member States, as a matter of urgency, to decide now to unconditionally ratify the Kyoto Protocol without changing the overall EU commitment.

Some EU Member States have already received the necessary approval by their assemblies, and others are well on their way. However, timely ratification is not guaranteed in all Member States; internal wrangling may unduly impede ratification. NGOs are and will be monitoring your progress very closely. We will name and shame any particular country that delays the process. Under the present circumstances, slowing down the process is equivalent to sabotaging the EU leadership role.

The European Union proved its leadership role among industrialised countries in tackling global climate change by standing firm against US rejection of the treaty last year. You succeeded in keeping the Protocol alive in Bonn and Marrakech. Don’t let the hard work go to waste. Your citizens will not accept failure.

Ten years after the Earth Summit of Rio de Janeiro, you have the opportunity to present to the world summit in Johannesburg a key item of success and underline your leadership role. Ensure that the Protocol is ratified now!

Yours sincerely,
Karla Schoeters, Climate Action Network – Europe
Michel Raquet, Greenpeace
Stephan Singer, World Wide Fund for Nature

for questions, please contact CNE's Matthias Duwe

 

About CAN-Europe

Disclaimer

Site Map