Nations cut environment deal in Morocco

More than 160 countries came to an agreement on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions Keystone

More than 160 nations gathered at a United Nations conference on climate change in Marrakesh have struck an accord on cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

The deal, reached after 12 days of tough negotiations, paves the way for the implementation next year of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which is aimed at stemming global warming.

“We’re quite confident now that the Kyoto Protocol is saved,” said Olivier Deleuze, the European Union’s chief delegate in Marrakesh. “The Kyoto process is now irreversible.”

The agreement still needs to be ratified by the signatory states before it can come into effect.

Switzerland’s mixed feelings

“The conference resulted in rather meagre results,” said Philippe Roch, head of Switzerland’s Federal Office for the Environment. “But the compromise will allow us to move forward.”

The Swiss delegation, led by the environment minister and current Swiss president, Moritz Leuenberger, played a key part in the Marrakesh talks.

Last Wednesday, Leuenberger announced to the assembly that Switzerland had launched the ratification process. The cabinet is expected to submit the text to parliament next year.

In conjunction with South Africa, Switzerland also put forward solutions for the last stumbling blocks, which were subsequently approved by the conference.

Both delegations were also in charge of writing the “Marrakesh Declaration”.

Kyoto Protocol

The 1997 Kyoto Protocol commits 38 of the world’s most industrialised countries to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by an average of five per cent from their 1990 levels over the next decade.

One of the principal sources of pollution is carbon dioxide, which the industry produces by burning fossil fuels.

The pact seemed in jeopardy last March when the United States – the world’s biggest emitter of greenhouse gases – pulled out of the agreement, saying it would hurt the US economy. It then became essential for Russia and Japan to sign the deal for it to come into effect.

Negotiations grinded to a halt after Russia said it would sign the deal if it was granted permission to double its quota of carbon dioxide. Russia justified the demand with its large wooded areas and agricultural surfaces.

The deal will come into force with the signature of at least 55 countries responsible for 55 per cent of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions in 1990.

swissinfo with agencies