Merkel Backs Climate Deal Based on Population
Date: 03-Sep-07
Country: JAPAN
Author: Claudia Kade
Merkel, who helped draw up the Kyoto Protocol on climate
change as Germany's environment minister in 1997, made global
warming and talks over a deal to succeed the protocol the focus
of her three-day visit to Japan.
"The question is: at what point can we involve developing
countries, and what kind of measure do we use to create a just
world?" Merkel said in Kyoto, the ancient Japanese capital
where the 1997 protocol was agreed.
Merkel suggested that developing countries should be
allowed to increase their emissions per capita while
industrialised national cut theirs, until both sides reach the
same level.
She brought up the proposal when she met officials in China
before travelling to Japan, but the Chinese were sceptical,
according to the German delegation.
"Once (developing countries) reach the level of
industrialised countries, the reduction begins," Merkel said.
A similar idea was fielded by Indian Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh during the G8 summit with major developing
countries in Germany in June.
Under the Kyoto pact, 35 developed nations are obliged to
cut emissions by 5 percent below 1990 levels by 2008-2012.
Developing nations, many of which have signed the protocol,
are not obliged to make any reductions during the pact's first
phase -- a concession that saw the United States and Australia
pull out of the pact.
Both nations, among the world's top per-capita polluters,
say it's unfair that big developing nations such as China,
India and Indonesia, are excluded and view the pact as bad for
their economies.
DIFFICULT ROAD AHEAD
Many developing countries, in turn, are worried that strict
environmental regulations will hamper economic growth. They
demand industrialised nations, as chief polluters, bear the
brunt of emission cuts.
In turn, wealthy nations with relatively small populations
and large industries fear a per-capita target could hurt them.
Currently, per-capita carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are
far higher in rich economies than in their poorer counterparts.
The United States produces about 20 tonnes of CO2 a year
per capita, Germany 11 tonnes and the European Union an average
of 9 tonnes, according to the German government.
China, on the other hand, churns out only 3.5 tonnes a year
per head. The global average is 4.2 tonnes.
Merkel repeated the aim was to halve global CO2 emissions
by 2050.
"That's a very big goal, but it's the consensus among
experts. If we can't reach that, we'll pay for it dearly," she
said. "If we don't do anything, we have to expect considerable
changes in our climate."
The United Nations is holding a major meeting on climate
change in December on the Indonesian island of Bali. Backers
want delegates to agree to launch talks on a new climate pact
to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which runs out in 2012.
Negotiators are aiming to hammer out the new pact by 2009,
and Japan plays a crucial role since it is hosting the next G8
summit in Hokkaido in 2008.
Merkel pointed out that targets included in the Kyoto
Protocol had not been reached. The European Union has only
achieved a 1.9 percent cut so far compared to a targeted 8
percent reduction, she said. Emissions have increased in Japan,
which had pledged to cut them by 6 percent.
About 1,000 delegates from 158 nations are currently
meeting in Vienna to discuss global warming.