THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT
The Greenhouse Effect


LOOKING FOR LOOPHOLES


Even the modest targets set by the Climate Convention are riddled with loopholes.

For instance, the convention implies that rich countries can meet their stabilization target by increasing carbon "sinks" such as forests, as well as limiting emissions. The US proposes doing just this. Most rich countries are already planting forests for other reasons, such as wood production. To count these as a contribution to halting global warming would be a travesty particularly as there has been so much deforestation that planting schemes cannot possibly compensate for the world's net tree loss, and therefore offer no net benefit.

Nations already have a duty under the Biodiversity Convention the other significant outcome from the Earth Summit to help preserve an ecologically healthy planet, by maintaining natural forests and wetlands, and keeping oceans pollution free. All these things will maintain and improve natural carbon sinks. But sinks should be regarded as a bonus: they should not be treated as an alternative to reducing emissions.

The Climate Convention permits nations to meet emissions targets "individually or jointly". Joint implementation could allow rich nations to focus on reducing emissions abroad and evade their ecological responsibilities at home. Because developing countries do not have targets to meet under the current convention, joint implementation is wide open to abuse.

If the Climate Convention is to work, these loopholes must be closed urgently.




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Copyright 1996, The World Wide Fund For Nature