The United States, Japan, China, India, Australia, and Korea have decided to form something called the "Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate." The government explains that it will supplement the Kyoto Protocol, but you worry because it looks like an attempt to render Kyoto ineffective.
The Kyoto Protocol is a historical document agreed on after much difficulty, in which signatory nations decide to reduce their greenhouse gasses according to a set schedule even at the risk of slower economic growth. The US, the largest producer of greenhouse gasses, withdrew its signature, however, and then organized a separate regime with China and India, which boast the world's fastest growth, with Japan, which is the worlds second greatest economic power, Korea, which ranks as the 10th largest economy, and Australia. If those six nations talk about technological development and say they are not going to force reductions in greenhouse gasses, then the basis of the Kyoto Protocol will be threatened since the first stage of compulsory reductions happens in 2008. Some 70 percent of the American public wants to join Kyoto, and the Bush Administration's behavior might as well be violence since it is destroying an international agreement in reflection of the interests of US oil companies.
Korea signed and ratified the Kyoto Protocol, and is wrong on two points for joining this "six nation partnership." The first would be that the action hurts diplomatic consistency, and it is also wrong because avoiding the reduction of greenhouse gasses is just unwise. Korea is the 9th largest producer of greenhouse gasses and has the fastest growing energy consumption rate. The situation is such that Korea needs to hurry to make energy use more effective and reduce consumption, if also for the sake of increasing competitiveness.
The Hankyoreh, 29 July 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
[Editorial] Trying to Destroy Kyoto Protocol? |
