Summary: February 26, 2004: The Commission rejects calls to drop the Kyoto Protocol (Brussels)
The European Commission strongly rejects all calls to change its position concerning the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol and its full implementation by the European Union.
"The Protocol represents a significant first step towards realizing the goal of stabilizing atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases at safe levels. We cannot and we will not back down in the fight against human induced climate change", said the President of the Commission, Romano Prodi Thursday in Brussels.
"Furthermore, economic growth and climate change policies are compatible and, if action is taken at an early stage, economic gains can be made. Implementing policies and measures such as energy-efficiency projects can help to decouple economic growth and the growth in emissions, in addition to achieving social and environmental benefits such as improved health", he stated.
The Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was ratified by the European Union and its Member States on 31 May 2002. In the meantime 121 Parties have ratified representing two-thirds of the world's population. Under the rules of the Protocol and following the decision by the United States not to ratify, the Protocol will enter into force once Russia has ratified.
The Kyoto Protocol commits the EU to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 8 per cent between 1990 and 2008-2012. Under its internal "burden-sharing" agreement, that became legally binding for the Member States when the EU decided to ratify the Kyoto Protocol (Council Decision 2002/358/EC of 25 April 2002), each Member State has accepted a target for limiting or reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.
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