Reuters AlertNet Lite - FACTBOX-Bush adds new track to U.N. climate bid

Reuters AlertNet Full site

NEWSDESK

FACTBOX-Bush adds new track to U.N. climate bid

01 Jun 2007 12:58:43 GMT
Source: Reuters

June 1 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush wants leaders of the world's top emitters of greenhouse gases to agree long-term cuts by the end of 2008, adding a new track to international efforts to fight global warming.

Following is a timetable, and some of the hurdles, towards building a global deal likely to start up on Jan. 1, 2013 after the first period of the United Nation's Kyoto Protocol runs out.

Under Kyoto, 35 industrialised nations have agreed to cap their greenhouse gas emissions, cutting by 5 percent on average below 1990 levels by 2008-2012.

TIME RUNNING SHORT

Time is starting to run short to ensure a smooth transition to a new set of rules beyond 2012 because governments widely reckon it will take about two years to negotiate any new pact and a further two for ratification.

It took two years from 1995-97 to negotiate Kyoto and eight more to ratify before the deal entered into force in 2005. Carbon markets and investors, for instance in new factories or power plants, want to know new rules as early as possible.

2007

May 31 - Bush said he wanted 15 top emitters of greenhouse gases -- which are led by the United States, China, Russia and India -- to "work together to develop a long-term global goal to reduce greenhouse gasses".

Bush's current U.S. plan lasting until 2012 brakes the rise of U.S. emissions without mandating Kyoto-style cuts and he has favoured voluntary international deals with rich nations providing cleaner technologies to poorer nations. Some nations fear Bush's plan will rival rather than reinforce U.N. efforts.

June 6-8 - Leaders of the group of eight leading industrialised nations will meet in Germany. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been pushing for a more ambitious deal and says the world needs to cut emissions by 50 percent in 2050 below 1990 levels.

TWO CAMPS

Two groups need to merge to pave the way to any world deal:

- The 35 Kyoto countries.

- And about 200 countries are separately engaged in a U.N.-sponsored dialogue about "long-term cooperative action to address climate change". The group includes Kyoto nations, developing countries and the United States and Australia which oppose Kyoto as too costly and unfair.

Aug. 27-31 - Senior government officials meet in Vienna for talks about Kyoto and a new round of the broader dialogue.

Sept. 24 - The United Nations plans a "high level" meeting about climate change, provisionally on Sept. 24 in New York.

Dec. 3-14 - Environment ministers from around the world meet in Bali, Indonesia. It will be a first meeting at which formal U.N. talks on a new post-Kyoto deal could be launched. Failing that, they might agree to extend the U.N. dialogue. White House officials said on Thursday that Bush's speech had effectively kicked off the Bali talks.

2008

Bush wants top emitters to agree cuts by the end of 2008.

Dec. - World environment ministers meet again in Poland.

2009

Jan. 20 - Bush leaves office

Dec. - Environment Ministers meet in Denmark. Many nations hope a launch of negotiations in Bali in 2007 would mean a U.N. deal could be signed at the Copenhagen talks.

2012

Dec. 31 - First period of Kyoto runs out.

AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article Send comments

Topics

• Technology

• Climate and Weather

MORE >>

Countries

Small country map
© 2004 Europa Technologies Ltd.

Reset map

• Russia profile
· View map

MORE >>

NGO latest

• Catholic Relief Services commends President's call to double PEPFAR funding
CRS - USA

• World Vision Lauds Bush Global AIDS Funding Proposal
WV - USA

• ACT Alert: Indonesia tidal waves displace thousands
ACT - Switzerland

• Put food at the heart of the fight against HIV and Aids or fail, warn leading aid agencies
CARE International - UK

• Catholic Relief Services urges Congress to preserve US long-term development food aid initiatives that fight chronic hunger
CRS - USA

MORE >>

Latest news

• FACTBOX-Bush adds new track to U.N. climate bid

• Fugitive TB patient asks passengers to forgive him

• Bush hopes Bulgarian HIV nurses will be freed soon

• FACTBOX-Military deaths in Afghanistan

• More abductions in Nigerian oil delta, siege ends

MORE >>

Last updated:Fri Jun 1 13:00:27 2007