Statement Of Fred Krupp Executive Director, Environmental Defense

We are encouraged by the Pronk document, but we want to see some major strengthening. Most of all, the devil is in the details, which we don’t have yet. Today negotiators must put the real meat of environmental protection onto the bare bones of President Pronk’s statement.

• First, let me comment on my view of the appropriate business community reaction. While this is a political document, and the underlying detailed text will be important, the creation of a market based system should lead businesses to support ratification of this agreement. A real market could be created to drive the hunt for least cost solutions to global warming which would give the world business community the tools to become part of the solution instead of part of the problem. In fact, we have seen the business community positively respond through new organizations like the Partnership for Climate Action.
  
  
• On the compliance issue we’re gratified that the Pronk statement explicitly focuses on tools based on restoring lost emissions reductions. However, we remain concerned that the underlying negotiating text still contains language, which could simply allow offenders to write a check or a plan and undermine the environmental integrity of the Protocol. These phony compliance options are a get out of jail free card for polluters.
  
  
• The proposed CDM provisions are brown not green, with no ecological standards for projects. Even worse, there are potentially sizable and perverse incentives to cut native forests, and no incentives to conserve forests. The principal beneficiary of this loophole appears to be Brazilian pulp and paper companies, not the environment; it must be closed.
  
  
• Finally, it is time for the delegates here to demonstrate leadership and adopt the provision saying Parties should decide emission commitments for the second budget period before the beginning of the first budget period. Delay would be unacceptable.

The science is clear and the flexibility for business compliance is in place — now the negotiators must provide the details that will assure ratification. The world is waiting and the temperature is rising.