Countries that are signed up to the Kyoto Protocol plans to tighten rules on greenhouse gas emissions after 2012. To set the new and tougher rules, 160 countries reaffirmed the plans on Friday in a conference in Bonn held from May 15 to 26. However, the conference did not fix up a timetable for agreeing on the goals. The talks on the goals, not applicable to the rich nations, would take at least two years.
Having pulled out of Kyoto in 2001, United States – the world’s biggest polluter — was absent. This conference was the first meeting of a group that was set up last December by Kyoto countries. They, for the first time convened for planning a roadmap out to cut emissions beyond 2012.
Michael Zammit Cutajar, head of the group driving post-2012 talks said,
Canada recently said its present targets were unachievable, while the commitment of Japan, another Kyoto ratifier, could not be taken for granted… It’s very important Canada stays on board. If Canada goes that starts to weaken the edifice… The most important thing at the moment is to hold Japan in. They’re extremely concerned about not going (too) far ahead in this game.
Via: Reuters