In the final stretch of the UN Climate Change Summit, the European Union must act more decisively to ensure that the conference produces a defined process, setting commitments for after 2012, when the Kyoto Protocol ends its first commitment period. The EU is conditioning its strategy on countries that have not signed the Protocol (mainly the US and Australia), but are within the Convention, agreeing to start a process that will culminate in future commitments. In this framework, developing countries could also assume some kind of commitment with common but differentiated responsibilities. Thus, Latin American countries have expressed their availability.

Mar Asunción, Head of the Climate Change Programme at WWF Adena, said: “The EU is faltering at this summit and does not maintain the leadership that has characterised it on previous occasions. Europe has voluntarily taken itself hostage to the United States, conditioning its position on the decisions of the Bush Administration within the framework of the Convention. Instead of this passivity, the EU needs to clearly show its commitment to setting a process under the Kyoto Protocol, in order to set out the reductions needed to curb climate change.”

WWF Adena calls on European ministers, including Minister Cristina Narbona, to show a more decisive attitude. Sending an unequivocal message to businesses and investors that the Kyoto Protocol will continue beyond 2012, with increased reduction commitments. “The ratification of the second period will take time and it is essential that the negotiation process for 2008 comes from here. Leaving enough time for the states to ratify it before the end of the first Kyoto period,” Mar Asunción added.

WWF Adena has set up a “Kilometer” to measure the strength with which governments are committed to fighting climate change. Minister Cristina Carbona was there accompanied by the Secretary of State of Mexico, Jose Luis Morales, and both symbolically showed their commitment. We hope that it will also translate into actions and that Spain will support within the EU a determined position to continue advancing with firm steps along the path of Kyoto, both in the section already traced and in the future,” concluded Asunción.

Photo: Beaulieu/WWF. Cristina Narbona proves her strength in the “Kilometer”.