Bonn Climate Meeting Is Crucial for U.S.

Puts final nail in Kyoto coffin, demonstrates American resolve

James K. Glassman | July 19, 2001

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The Japanese also indicated that it was unlikely that they would ratify Kyoto unless the Americans do so. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Japan's environmental minister, said that "partcipation of the U.S. is critically important." Together, the U.S. and Japan are responsible for 42 percent of greenhouse emissions by developed countries (as of 1990, the base year); the treaty requires 55 countries with total developed-nation emissions of 55 percent for enactment.

But, if the Europeans are so enthusiastic about Kyoto, why don't they proceed, whether they get the requisite 55 percent or not. So far, however, not a single European country except Romania has ratified the treaty, which was signed nearly four years ago, nor have the Europeans taken the natural step of modifying treaty terms to lure the U.S. back into the fold. Why not?

In an article posted online by the New Republic earlier this week, Gregg Easterbrook, a respected writer on environmental issues, raised the specter of continental hyprocrisy. "When Euros say" they back Kyoto, Easterbrook wrote, "they mean it with the same deep, sincere conviction that members of Congress used when they said they backed campaign finance reform, confident it had no chance of passage. European Union states can now thump their chests about how badly they want Kyoto because they are confident it has absolutely no chance of going into force."

Easterbrook also notes that, not only has no E.U. country ratified Kyoto, but "the European Commission, the E.U.'s executive body, has proposed no meaningful anti-greenhouse measures; of European states, only Denmark and Norway have taken domestic action, and of the token variety."

If the Europeans were serious about enacting Kyoto, this theory goes, they would simply relax their position, get support from Japan, Canada and Australia and go ahead without the United States.

Still, judging from the morose faces here in Bonn, I find it hard to agree that the Europeans -- not to mention their allies in developing nations, who are required to do absolutely nothing under the treaty -- are truly overjoyed at the firmness of the U.S. opposition.

But, then again, lumping all Europeans together may be misleading. It is Europe's enviros -- mainly the Green Party politicians who control environmental ministries -- who are represented here. The cynics are back home -- or in Genoa.