WASHINGTON - The United States expressed disappointment in a decision by the European Union to seek limits on carbon emissions trading under the Kyoto global climate treaty, saying the EU was rewriting prior agreements. 

"Market mechanisms, such as emissions trading, are essential to dealing with the global problem of climate change in the most cost-effective and environmentally effective manner," said James Foley, deputy State Department spokesman. 

Diplomats from the 15 EU states on Monday finalized a proposal to limit so-called "flexible mechanisms," such as emissions trading, to ensure that countries meet most of their Kyoto commitments by cutting their own domestic emissions. The 1997 Kyoto framework calls for the world's industrial powers to cut greenhouse causing emissions by an average of 5.2 percent below 1990 levels over the 2008-20 period. 

The EU action precedes a planned June round of climate change talks in Bonn, Germany. Foley said Washington would oppose the EU proposal, adding it was clearly stated that U.S. participation in the Kyoto program depends on the flexibility of emissions trading, and other measures to lower the cost of meeting targeted cuts. 

"The United States is taking vigorous domestic action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and will continue to do so. But restricting trading simply limits one of the most effective tools in the world's arsenal for combating global warming," Foley said. 

Even though the United States has signed the treaty, the actual implementation of the plan must still be negotiated. Republican leaders have led a group of anti-Kyoto lawmakers in the Senate, blocking any White House hopes for gaining the deal's ratification in the near future. 

Opponents say the Kyoto accord would harm the U.S. economy, and let developing countries, like China and India, avoid making cuts. The White House believes that scientific data prove the earth is warming, and says something must be done to prevent a potential public health and environmental disaster. They also think emissions trading and other incentives must be in place to reduce costs to the economy and present new opportunities. 

Frank Loy, State Department undersecretary for global affairs, told Reuters that the EU proposal makes him "question their motives" since European nations have asserted their right to unlimited emissions trading among themselves. 

"At Kyoto, we had a fairly delicate balance to which we accepted a reduction target that was aggressive, but which gave us flexibility," 
Loy said in a telephone interview. 

Phone: + 92 42 6666404 - 6687827
 

 

 
E-mail: jrc@syberwurx.com