NGO Resolution for Kyoto
to the Ministers of the Environment of
Central and East European Countries

We, the undersigned non-governmental groups from Central and Eastern Europe, believe that the Kyoto Climate Summit represents a historic opportunity for nations which are parties to the UNFCCC to reaffirmtheir commitment and take strong action towards protecting our earth from significant human-induced climate change.

There is by now strong agreement among scientists that greenhouse gases from human and industrial activity, such as CO2, trap heat in the atmosphere and affect the earth's climate and weather patterns. Indeed, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has concluded that a human influence on the global climate is "discernible." We therefore reaffirm our belief that substantial reductions in GHG emissions from current levels are required to avoid further drastic changes in the world's climate.

In addition to increases in global temperature and sea level rise, extreme weather events linked in part to global warming, such as drought, severe storms, and flooding, have been observed with increased frequency. In a joint statement, over 2000 economists affirmed earlier this year that "global climate change carries with it significant environmental, economic, social, and geopolitical risks, and that preventive steps are justified." At the same time, the economists believe that "there are many potential policies to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions for which the total benefits outweigh the total costs."

A number of countries in our region have recently faced the tremendous destructive impacts of flooding. The international scientific community has warned that, with further climate change, such extreme weather events will in all likelihood increase in frequency. If nations do not act to curb emissions, further increases in temperature are predicted.

We recognize that all of the countries in our region have already achieved reductions in CO2 emissions since 1990, as the result of the of dramatic decreases in energy consumption. (Between years 1990 and 1994, energy consumption dropped from 46 EJ to 30 EJ in total, mainly due to a decline in industrial production in the region.) Nonetheless, significant potential for increased energy efficiency in CEE countries is evident: recent studies confirm the possibility of a decrease of 26% in CO2 emissions through energy conservation and other measures in the region by the year 2010.

CEE countries have a unique opportunity to play a constructive role in a major international environmental negotiation. CEE countries are in a clear win-win situation, as an increase in energy efficiency in the region, which will lead to emissions reductions, is also cost effective and will help to make our economies competitive, as we move the countries of our region to a less intensive energy path. This will allow economic growth which is not dependent on increases in GHG emissions. We must use this unique opportunity to combine economic and environmental benefits in our countries.

We, the undersigned non-governmental groups from Central and Eastern Europe, therefore call upon our governments to:

(1) express their full support for the European Union proposal seeking legally binding GHG emission reduction targets for Annex I countries for the years 2005 and 2010, at a minimum; and to commit towards even stronger national targets where increased reduction potentials are evident.

(2) support the inclusion of targets for 6 greenhouse gases in any protocol to be agreed in Kyoto, including CO2, N2O, Methane, HFCs, SF6, and PFC.

(3) oppose any protocol agreed in Kyoto that would allow for the creation of loopholes in plans to reduce GHG emissions after the year 2000. Such loopholes are currently contained in proposals for banking or borrowing of emissions reductions, joint implementation, and especially in emissions trading with past reductions.

(4) ensure that funding provided to our region by multi-lateral development banks (MDBs) and assistance programs, such as PHARE and TACIS, accord the highest priority to energy efficiency and renewable energy, as well as to public transport projects, and are not used to finance projects which will increase GHG emissions in our countries.

(5) take full responsibility for meeting GHG reduction targets, committing to - at minimum - the reduction targets agreed upon for Annex I countries; without seeking differentiated treatment as countries with economies in transition:

(a) As countries with relatively high energy intensities and correspondingly high GHG emissions per capita, our countries carry an especially high responsibility to reduce GHG emissions.

(b) At the same time, our countries are characterized by large potentials in energy efficiency and therefore should take on commensurate reduction obligations.

(c) Countries in the region that have not yet joined Annex I should do so. Countries in our region which are or will be OECD members should join the Annex 2 group of countries and take on the full obligations of Annex 2 countries.