US 'has to act now' on climate report
Pastor Dale Morgan
*US 'has to act now' on climate report*
Demonstrators built a symbolic "ark" outside the meeting venue
BBC- European environment leaders have said the US and Australia must
alter their stance on climate change, as talks opened in Brussels on a
major report.
EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said a change of the US
"negative attitude" to international climate treaties was "absolutely
necessary".
The report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
will detail projections of climate impacts.
It is expected to forecast problems with supplies of food and water.
The final wording of the IPCC's summary conclusions will be finalised
during a week of discussions involving scientists and government
representatives, and will be unveiled on Friday.
Major concerns
Already, draft versions have been leaked to a number of news outlets;
and they suggest the IPCC will outline major issues for concern,
particularly in Asia and Africa.
More than one billion people who receive fresh water from glaciers in
mountain ranges including the Himalayas, Alps, Andes and Rockies will
see supplies dwindle, it is expected to say.
Unpopular measures are unavoidable-Guy Verhofstadt
It is likely to project an increased risk of serious inundation for some
low-lying cities, both on the coast or on the estuaries of major rivers.
Agricultural output is thought likely to decrease in tropical regions,
but to increase in high latitudes.
Mr Dimas contrasted the approach of the European Union to mitigating
these impacts through agreed international reductions in greenhouse gas
emissions with the stance of the US and Australia, which have both left
the Kyoto Protocol un-ratified having initially signed it in 1997.
"(The US) approach doesn't help in reaching international agreement, and
doesn't help reduce (US) emissions," he said.
"We expect the US to come closer and not to continue with a negative
attitude in international negotiations... it's absolutely necessary that
they move."
Mr Dimas also said he could not understand why Australia did not ratify
the Kyoto Protocol, saying it would cost the nation less in the long term.
Since 1990, the baseline year for the most important gases dealt with by
the Kyoto treaty, US greenhouse gas output has risen by about 20% while
emissions for the pre-expansion EU have declined by about 2%.
US Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said recently that his administration
acknowledged human emissions of greenhouse gases were contributing to a
changing climate, adding that cutting his country's emissions might
damage the economy and send industry overseas.
Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt added that "unpopular measures
are unavoidable", and said it was up to politicians of all countries to
take those measures.