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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