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Climate Ministers Accuse Rich Nations Of Trying To Kill Kyoto Protocol

Posted on: Monday, 5 October 2009, 14:39 CDT

Denmark’s climate minister on Monday warned that America could lose its “position as a world power in dealing with major global problems” if it and other rich nations are unable to reach a global climate agreement.

"In the 21st century, I cannot imagine a global climate accord without the agreement of the major economies, including naturally the United States," said Connie Hedegaard.

The warning comes just months ahead of UN talks in December during which world leaders are expected to construct a new plan to replace the Kyoto Protocol set to expire in 2012.

Hedegaard added that the world is expecting President Barack Obama to come up with a climate policy that is sufficiently ambitious."

"It is clear that the whole world is aware of the need not to repeat the error of the Kyoto Protocol which the United States did not sign on to in the end and India and China never took part," she said.

AFP reported that Hedegaard’s comments were in reaction to a quote from New York Times of Obama advisor Carol Browner, who said the chances of Congress drafting a law to cut greenhouse gas emissions before the Copenhagen deadline were very slim.

Also on Monday, Lumumba D'Aping, who chairs the G77 plus China negotiating group said that it was “self-evident and actually clear” that rich nations are planning to kill off the Kyoto Protocol by shying away from strong commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

"I have yet to see a developed country or a group of developed countries coming up to say to the public, the international community and to their own people that they are not here to kill the Kyoto Protocol," said China’s envoy for climate change, Yu Qingtai.

Source: RedOrbit Staff & Wire Reports

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