Discuss this articleShare your views with other visitors, and read what they have to say
On 11 March, a decision by the European Parliament entered into force, making the Kyoto Protocol legally binding in the EU. The decision spells out how greenhouse gas emissions are monitored and reported, and was the final piece of legislation needed to operationalise all aspects of the Kyoto Protocol in the EU. EU Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström said that “as a strong bloc of soon-to-be 25 countries, the European Union has a special responsibility to show global leadership and pave the way for other countries to follow suit”. While the Protocol is legally binding in EU countries, it has yet to enter into force internationally. After the US pulled out in 2001, only Russia’s ratification can make this happen. At the EU level, some countries and ministers have questioned the rationale of going it alone, especially as most EU countries already are off track in meeting their Kyoto targets. In related news, the Swedish National Trade Board recently released a study on the relationship between climate and trade rules. The report concluded that the “friendly coexistence” between the two sets of rules should be possible. In conclusion, the report called for action to promote the mutual supportiveness of the two regimes at the national and international levels.
“Kyoto Protocol Becomes Binding For European Union,” UNWIRE, 11 March 2004; “All Kyoto Protocol Rules Now Legally Binding in Europe,” ENS, 11 March 2004.
Add a comment
Enter your details and a comment below, then click Submit Comment. We’ll review and publish the best comments.