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Proposal would cut greenhouse gasses by 5 percent
December 9, 1997
As the end of the conference approaches, negotiations have taken on an air of urgency
Web posted at: 10:09 a.m. EST (1509 GMT)KYOTO, Japan (CNN) -- The chairman of the international global warming conference, Raul Estrada, has proposed that industrialized nations cut emissions of greenhouse gasses by an average of 5 percent, compared with 1990 levels. His draft proposal came as negotiators rushed to come up with a unified stance on emissions cuts before the conference ends on Wednesday.
There were indications Tuesday that the United States might be willing to agree to bigger cuts than it had originally planned -- apparently in line with Vice President Al Gore's announcement on Monday that Washington would show "flexibility" in trying to reach a common target.
Estrada's proposals -- which are being considered and evaluated by conference delegations -- call for emission cuts of 5 percent for the United States, 8 percent for the European Union and 4.5 percent for Japan.
The cuts would involve the three main, naturally occurring, heat-trapping gasses: carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane. A U.N. spokesman said three other man-made gasses: hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride -- would be discussed next year.
Proposed list of nations' gas emission targets
The reductions would be based on the emission levels of 1990 and would have to be implemented between 2006 and 2010.
Proposal marks compromise
Estrada's figures marked a compromise and were apparently aimed at pushing negotiations forward as time was running out for conference members to set a joint target.
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The 5 percent cut proposed for the United States would be bigger than President Bill Clinton's administration had envisioned, but equally, so, the proposals would ignore a European Union proposal to cut emissions by 15 percent.
The controversial issue of developing nations rolling back their emissions was also sidestepped by Estrada's proposal since the average cut of 5 percent would only apply to 30 industrial nations. China -- which has said it will not make any commitment that would interfere with its economic growth -- would only be asked to make voluntary cutbacks. And Australia, which had appealed for special status because of its emissions-intensive industries, would be allowed an increase of emissions of 5 percent.
U.S. willing to accept higher cutbacks
Copies of the proposal were handed out as quickly as they could be printed "We are close to a solution," Estrada said on Tuesday. And that assessment coincided with the United States indicating it was ready to accept a cut in greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels.
Danish delegate Svend Auken went public on Tuesday with what he said was a U.S. proposal to cut emissions by 2 percent. Other members of the Danish delegation criticized this cut as not good enough for one of the world's major emissions producers.
Senior U.S. administration officials said they regretted the comments, maintaining that the Danish delegation reports were not an accurate account of the proposal, and that a 2 percent reduction was in fact "an understatement."
The U.S. delegation also tacitly condemned the Danish delegate's comments: "It is generally understood in the course of the consultations that negotiations would be private."
Correspondent May Lee, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
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Related stories:
- Gore pledges 'flexibility' at climate summit - December 8, 1997
- Global warming debate: Dueling views of the future - December 2, 1997
- Negotiators discuss 'differentiated' emissions cuts - December 2, 1997
- No consensus on solving global warming - October 6, 1997
Related sites:
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- Official Site of the Third Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC
- Global Climate Information Project
- Climate Countdown - National Environmental Trust
- U.S. Global Climate Research Program
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