KYOTO PROTOCOL ON CLIMATE CHANGE IS SOUND FOUNDATION FOR GLOBAL COOPERATIVE STRATEGY TO PROTECT COMMON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL
Press Release
SG/SM/6420
ENV/DEV/457
KYOTO PROTOCOL ON CLIMATE CHANGE IS SOUND FOUNDATION FOR GLOBAL COOPERATIVE STRATEGY TO PROTECT COMMON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL
19971211 The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary- General Kofi Annan:The Kyoto Conference on Climate Change has taken a major step towards the objective of limiting growth in greenhouse gas emissions. The developed countries have set an overall target to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases by more than 5 per cent below 1990 levels by early next century. This will represent a major shift in the trend of emissions; it shows true political leadership by the largest industrial economies. The Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change provides opportunities for partnership between government and the private sector, notably in transferring finance and technology for sustainable development in developing countries. This is a sound foundation for a global cooperative strategy which will bring together, under the aegis of the United Nations, governments, civil society and the business community in a joint effort to protect a common environmental resource. I urge governments now to move expeditiously in ratifying and implementing this historic agreement.
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