Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-02-05-Speech-2-300"
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"en.20020205.14.2-300"2
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"Madam President, Commissioner, as Mr Moreira da Silva reminds us in his report, ten years have passed since the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. I hope that in September we can celebrate the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. We will have to consider whether or not these last ten years have been wasted.
Whilst on the one hand we recall how reports, financed mainly by Americans, were falsified during this period to show that climate change did not exist, in the same way that any scientist who insisted on the problems that climate change could cause, was discredited, it is also true to say that public awareness has greatly increased over these ten years. In other words, we may have wasted time in implementing measures, but the level of public awareness is higher than ever before.
I think that today we are all aware of the significance of the Kyoto Protocol, the meaning of climate change and its associated effects, such as the submergence of islands, the destruction of coastline, the massive displacement of millions of people and the loss of biodiversity. Therefore, I think that we have made gains on the one hand even if we have suffered losses on the other.
It is also true that, from 1990 to 1999, greenhouse gas emissions were reduced in Europe, but it must be said that this is due, to a large extent, to two countries in particular, for very specific reasons. There are many countries, such as my own, whose greenhouse gas emissions have increased – excessively, to my mind. Spain’s emissions have increased by 23%, although the possibility that at the next Council of Ministers, according to today’s papers, the Spanish government will decide to ratify the Kyoto Protocol is to be welcomed and is good news. This is an example that other countries should follow, to be able to reach, in September, the figure of 55 countries needed to ratify the Protocol, which account for over 55% of all greenhouse gas emissions.
I believe, in agreement with some of my fellow Members, that the final result is not as ambitious as expected some years ago, but, as Mr Moreira da Silva also states, the alternative would be much worse. We have to work to ensure that States ratify the Protocol, but also that they implement specific measures, with the priority of those economic sectors that pollute the most, such as transport. The rapporteur very clearly states that emissions caused by transport could rise by 50% over the next decade. Priority measures should be direct action in key economic sectors.
I also agree with Mr Moreira da Silva that the balance that has been achieved should be left alone, for, as many of my fellow Members have already said, Mrs Wallström and this Parliament have done some great work and, although it may be modest, the step forward is very significant."@en1
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