Climate Action Network Europe

Brussels, 30th May 2001

Dear Heads of Government, and Heads of State,

As you are aware, the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will meet in Bonn in July to decide the fate of the Kyoto Protocol. The US has announced that it will abandon the Protocol, and is working on a rival proposal of its own, which will undoubtedly be much weaker, in an attempt to replace the Kyoto Protocol. This would be disastrous, setting back the fight against dangerous climate change for many years. The world is looking to the governments of Europe to keep the Kyoto Protocol on track.

The Kyoto Protocol is not replaceable; it must be ratified and brought into force
Those that dismiss the Kyoto Protocol ignore the major impact it has already had. By clearly laying the groundwork for a carbon-constrained world, it has given an invaluable lead to business and to policy makers. Climate targets are starting to influence, however imperfectly, the design of policy in other areas. Businesses have the certainty they need to invest in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and the more proactive have started to make deep reductions. The economic, employment and other benefits of driving technology development and improving efficiency are already being seen in Europe. To abandon the Protocol now, and remove this certainty, would be the height of folly. The US attempt to do so must be rejected.

Climate change is an urgent problem. Having painstakingly negotiated the Kyoto Protocol, a process that has taken nearly 10 years, the world cannot afford to start again from zero. Kyoto is not a perfect instrument, but it must be made to work. We urge you to clearly state that the EU is absolutely committed to working with our partners in Japan, Russia, the G77 and Central and Eastern Europe to ratify and bring Kyoto into force by the Rio+10 conference in 2002, without the United States if necessary. We urge you also to secure a commitment from the United States that at the very least it will not obstruct others in the Bonn negotiations.

Policies and measures are vital
The US has attempted to question the good faith of the EU countries, publicly doubting whether they have the will to really make the reductions they have committed to, and attributing earlier reductions to luck. The credibility of the EU in Bonn will depend critically on the implementation of coherent and sufficient policies and measures to meet the Kyoto targets, both at Community and member state levels. The European Climate Change Programme, together with member state plans of action, must result in the enactment of policies, including fiscal reform, emissions trading and other regulatory instruments, designed to deliver GHG reductions within the European Union . We urge you to clearly commit the EU to go ahead with the implementation of such policies and measures to meet the Kyoto targets within the Community, regardless of the rate of progress in Bonn.

In Gothenburg all eyes will be on you. Each day of uncertainty as to the fate of the Protocol does more damage. We warmly applaud the strong statements that several EU governments have made in defence of Kyoto already. But we urge the European Union now to resolve clearly and publicly to bring the Kyoto Protocol speedily into force, and to put in place the requisite policies and measures without delay.

Yours sincerely,

Karla Schoeters, Director,
Climate Network Europe

CC: EU15 Environment Ministers
EU 15 Heads of Climate Change Delegations
EU Commission DG Environment

Link to the official website of the Council Meeting