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Breakthrough for Kyoto Pact Lies in Japan: German Minister
German Environment Minister Juergen Trittin said on Monday that Japan's attitude at the coming world climate conference would be crucial for a breakthrough for the Kyoto Pact.
Two weeks before the world climate conference to be held in Bonn, Germany, the minister called on relevant countries to work for a breakthrough at the conference.
During a meeting with visiting South African Environment Minister Valli Moosa, Trittin warned that the situation on environmental protection is in crisis after the United States announced its withdrawal from the 1997 Kyoto Pact.
The success of the Bonn conference will depend on Japan's agreement on the pact, the minister pointed out. But it is still unclear what Japan will act at the conference.
The developing countries are important allies of the European Union in securing the success of the pact, the German minister added.
Moosa said that it would be unacceptable that no achievements would be made at the Bonn conference.
According to the Kyoto Pact, developed countries should reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases by 5 percent by 2012 compared with the level in 1990. It can also be ratified without the United States.
The Bush administration rejected the pact in March, saying it could harm U.S. economy and was unfair as it did not impose emissions targets on developing countries.
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