WWF Position Paper



WWF Position Statement for COP 3
Kyoto, Japan 1-10 December 1997

Closing the Deal by Sealing the Loopholes

The Third Conference of the Parties in Kyoto is the time and place for industrialised countries to show leadership in combating climate change. This can only be done by making unambiguous commitments to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, below 1990 levels by 2005 and make further reductions by 2010.

WWF Climate Team in Kyoto
WWF's Climate Change staff in Kyoto, Japan.
WWF supports those proposals which include a 20% cut in industrialised countries emissions of carbon dioxide by 2005 with more cuts by 2010. Only early targets for emission reductions send the right signals to investors-- particularly in the energy sector-- to focus on cleaner energy options and avoid wasting investment in more polluting and inefficient technologies.

Agreed reductions must not be offset by allowing loopholes which under the headline of flexibility are being considered as part of the final agreement. If utilised, these loopholes could effectively cause an increase in emissions from industrialised countries instead of reductions and thus undermine the entire protocol.

The Kyoto protocol should be simple and straight-forward. It should:

  • secure legally-binding reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases by Annex 1 (industrialised) parties;
  • include a target for significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by 2005 and 2010;
  • ensure these reductions are from a 1990 baseline;
  • ensure reductions are defined on a gas-by-gas basis and not through a basket approach;
  • include bunker fuels;
  • not include the net approach in calculating emissions reductions;
  • ensure that reduction targets are only set for those gases which can be accurately quantified and monitored;
  • not include an emissions trading system unless much stronger reduction targets than those currently proposed by industrialised countries are adopted;
  • not allow banking or trading of emissions reductions achieved before any agreed first budget period (i.e. reductions achieved unintentionally such as those in Russia and Central and Eastern European nations);
  • not include joint implementation at this stage;
  • create a mechanism to allow for the regular and transparent review of the adequacy of commitments contained in the protocol;
  • establish a satisfactory compliance and monitoring mechanism, for example via an agreement on a fine for non-compliance by Annex 1 countries. (The proceeds from this should help fund the more rapid penetration of environmentally-sound technologies in developing nations.)

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

  • Gisele McAuliffe, mobile phone, Kyoto: +81 (0)80 109 5431
  • Liz Foley, mobile phone, Kyoto: +81 (0)80 109 4445