Greenhouse gas emissions

The United Nations Sixth Conference of the Parties (COP6) involving delegates from 184 nations has ended without an agreement. The conference at the Hague in the Netherlands was an attempt to implement the 1997 Kyoto Protocol which was drawn up to cut major industrialised countries' greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 5.2% below 1990 levels by 2008 to 2012. The UK Government's target is to cut emissions by 12.5% for this period, although it is convinced that this could be raised even further. Failure to reach an agreement at COP6 appeared to be the result of differences between the European Union and a United States led group which included Japan and Canada. The main issue of contention was that of credit gained from forests and farmlands absorbing greenhouse gases, so-called carbon sinks, to off-set against actual reductions in emissions. There is currently much scientific uncertainty about the value of sinks in reducing the levels of atmospheric greenhouse gases. Although the United States did offer some concessions on the magnitude of caps on its sinks allowance in a UK brokered deal, a majority of the EU delegates rejected it, arguing that the caps were still too high. Many delegates pointed to progress made during the talks however and expressed the hope that another meeting, probably in late May and early June next year, could result in a more positive outcome. The European Union environment commissioner Margot Wallstrom was reported to be working towards new proposals for the second part of the conference, which should be presented within two months. Full details of the background and issues discussed at the conference can be found at: http://cop6.unfccc.int and http://www.climatechange2000.org/modules/html.asp?pageid=15 For further information please contact Mark Rutter at CMS Cameron McKenna at [email protected] or on 020 7367 3182.