EDF Praises Progress at Climate Talks, Calls for Action at Home

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today praised major strides made at the conclusion of negotiations in Buenos Aires on international efforts to control climate change, and called for strong measures by the US government to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG).

At the end of round-the-clock negotiations that saw breakthrough decisions by Argentina and Kazakhstan to join industrialized nations in cutting their GHG emissions, and the United States’ decision to sign the Kyoto Protocol, delegates from 160 nations committed their governments to launch the next phase in the process of reducing emissions. They agreed to finalize, by no later than 2000, one set of rules to make it cheaper and easier to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and another to hold countries accountable when they emit more GHG than permitted.

“The decisions taken here in Buenos Aires show that governments have begun to roll up their sleeves and get down to the serious business of reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said EDF executive director Fred Krupp. “Thanks to the innovative proposal by the Clinton Administration to include the trading of emissions in the Kyoto Protocol, countries and companies will have the opportunity to make those pollution cuts in the most cost-effective way possible and the incentives to make them even faster than required.”

“Today’s decisions bring the world one step closer to the reductions needed for a stable climate. Already, a number of the world’s largest companies have responded positively with commitments to reduce GHG emissions early,” said Krupp.

“Argentina and Kazakhstan made bold moves to push this negotiating process forward and make the Earth safer,” said Krupp. “These countries have shown that they will not allow a few obstructionist oil exporting countries to block efforts to protect their own, and the world’s, environment.”

“Many of the nations here have reiterated the seriousness of their intentions to address climate change. Now its time to turn that talk into action,” So far, this year has been the warmest on record, and scientists agree that human activities are affecting the climate. Our duty to future generations is to take steps now to reverse this trend,” said Krupp.

The Environmental Defense Fund, a leading national, NY-based nonprofit organization, represents 300,000 members. EDF links science, economics, and law to create innovative, equitable, and economically viable solutions to today’s environmental problems.