U.S., China intransigence threatens global-warming pact at APEC

authordefault
on

Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders have been working on a draft that would reaffirm a UN treaty on climate change and set non-binding targets for cutting greenhouse-gas emissions. The statement would also set targets requiring APEC members to increase energy efficiency by 25 per cent byย 2030.

Industrialized economies, led by host Australia and the U.S., want to forge a new framework outside the UN-backed Kyoto Protocol, which sets specific goals for reducing emissions. The Bush administration refused to ratify Kyoto, the world’s first treaty to set targets for greenhouse-gas reductions. China, which as a developing country was exempted from having to make cuts under Kyoto, says it will not sacrifice economic growth to fight climateย change.

So the nations representing two-thirds of world greenhouse-gas emissions have essentially hijacked the APEC forum. The U.S. has come under widespread international and domestic criticism for its position, but not China, which recently overtook the U.S. as the worldโ€™s top producer of carbonย emissions.

APEC leaders are still grappling over the statement, and the North-South divide doesnโ€™t bode well for the finalย draft.

authordefault
Admin's short bio, lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. Voluptate maxime officiis sed aliquam! Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit.

Related Posts

on

Importing fracked gas during a trade war undermines Canadaโ€™s energy security, environmentalists warn premier.

Importing fracked gas during a trade war undermines Canadaโ€™s energy security, environmentalists warn premier.
on

The multi-millionaire Brexit funder has claimed โ€œCO2 and climate change is the ultimate hoaxโ€.

The multi-millionaire Brexit funder has claimed โ€œCO2 and climate change is the ultimate hoaxโ€.
on

The appointment of Filip Turek to a new rapporteur position is a โ€œdisasterโ€ for the integrity of EU climate policy, say campaigners.

The appointment of Filip Turek to a new rapporteur position is a โ€œdisasterโ€ for the integrity of EU climate policy, say campaigners.
on

On stage at a PragerU fundraiser, the Alberta premier, under fire for allegedly encouraging U.S. leaders to influence Canadian politics, said 'I come in peace'.

On stage at a PragerU fundraiser, the Alberta premier, under fire for allegedly encouraging U.S. leaders to influence Canadian politics, said 'I come in peace'.