Federal Environment Minister Jürgen Trittin: Climate Protection Initiative of the United States Is Disappointing

We will stick to our goal: To reintegrate the worlds largest emitter into the Kyoto process

Federal Minister Jürgen Trittin has expressed his disappointment about the climate protection programme presented by US President George Bush: "I welcome the fact that by launching this programme President Bush has acknowledged the need to take measures against climate change. After an initial assessment, however, I feel that in terms of substance the programme is disappointing. Due to its non-binding character it can hardly be assumed that US emissions, which are already high, will be significantly reduced or reduced in any way. I feel instead that the GDP-related regime will allow for a further increase of emissions. The programme is thus far from being an adequate substitute for the United States withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol."

The programme for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions submitted by the US President Bush provides for an increase in energy efficiency by 18 percent in the next decade. Above and beyond this, it announces increased efforts in climate research and the development of climate protection technology. The bundle of measures presented contains neither an overall objective to reduce greenhouse gas emissions nor a fixed ceiling for increasing US emissions.

Last year the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) called for rapid and determined action to at least prevent the worst effects of climate change. Scientists estimate that industrialized countries will have to reduce their emissions by about 70 percent by the second half of this century to keep climate change within bearable limits.

Greenhouse gas emissions of the United States have already increased by 14 percent since 1990, CO2 emissions have even increased by 16.7 percent. Despite this increase, energy efficiency in US industry improved by 17.4 percent between 1990 and 2000. The programme submitted now will allow the US to further increase emissions. Initial estimates project that under the new programme US emissions could increase to approximately 28-29 percent by 2012, in other words 34-35 percent above the 7 percent reduction goal agreed to by the US in Kyoto.

Federal Environmental Minister Jürgen Trittin: "The programme proves that a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions at international level is only possible within an internationally binding system. The Kyoto Protocol is a first important step in this direction. For this reason it must be implemented and further developed as quickly as possible. The goal must be to reintegrate the world's largest emitter into this system. Doors must not be closed for a return of the USA to the Kyoto regime. We must not release the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter from its responsibility for the protection of the global climate."

Minister Trittin outlined that the hesitant position of the Unites States regarding climate protection was no reason for Germany to lower its climate protection goals. The pioneering role of German climate protection policy provides competitive advantages for German industry. A Prognos study "Climate Protection and Jobs" launched last year proves that proactive climate protection and labour policy goals are not conflicting, but instead have a positive reciprocity effect. Prognos experts calculated that the implementation of the German climate protection programme will lead to the creation of approximately 155,000 new jobs by the end of 2005 and a net figure of around 194,000 new employees by the year 2020.

Jürgen Trittin: "I hope that the United States will recognize the fact that active climate protection is not only an environment policy requirement but also a great opportunity for modernisation and progressive development in industry. Therefore the assumption that the Kyoto Protocol will put millions of Americans out of work is in my opinion not justified."