Tal
9 december 2000
Anna Lindh
Statment by Ms Anna Lindh, Minister of Environment, Sweden, at the Third Conference of Parties of the Convention on Climate Chan
Mr President,
Let me first congratulate you on your election and tell you how much we
appreciate working under your guidance here in Kyoto. I also wish to thank
Ambassador Estrada for his decisive role in managing the negotiation process.
Mr President,
Ladies and gentlemen,
We are not here to make speeches.
We are here to take action, to bring forward a very complex undertaking: to
prevent global warming.
The call for action is obvious but there are no simple solutions. Yet we must
find the basis for an ambitious and equitable protocol. What solution should we
seek?
First, we must seek a solution based on science. Since we all agree on the
conclusions made by IPCC, we must also follow its recommendations and get a
substantial reduction of emissions, as was pointed out by Minister Johny
Lahure, speaking for the European Union.
Second, we must seek a solution based on justice. CO2 emissions are directly
linked to industrialisation and living standards, and therefore the
industrialised countries have to take their responsibility. The excuses for not
doing so may be well-formulated and well-spoken. But they lack in logic and
they lack in moral. The rich and industrialised countries have to take the
lead.
Third, we must seek a solution based on credibility. The most important issue
is the level of reduction, but also how to obtain it. Sweden strongly supports
the EU proposals on policies and measures.
Credibility also means that reductions must not be made hollow because of
exceptions or undue flexibility. Therefore we cannot have provisions on sinks
or trading open-ending.
Mr President,
Sweden has among the lowest CO2 emissions per capita in the OECD. We have tried
to combat the CO2 problem by taking different measures. In 1991, a tax was
introduced on fossil fuels. I believe Sweden is one of the few countries to
have done that. We are introducing extensive programs to promote the intro-
duction of renewables, such as biofuels.
It has not been easy.
We faced strong opposition from lobby groups, defending their interest in
maintaining old-fashioned structures. And we are well aware that, what we have
done so far, is still not enough. We must continue. Sweden stands firmly behind
the EU decision on the bubble. And the Parliament of Sweden decided in 1993 to
stabilise CO2 emissions at 1990 level by the year 2000, and to reduce emissions
after 2000. The level will be decided next spring.
I know that many countries have made serious efforts in reducing their
emissions. Now it is time for everyone, in everyones interest, to try to agree
on a Protocol and on follow-up action.
It is time for serious negotiation, time to display all our imagination and
experience. Of course it is difficult to agree on compromises. But it can be
done. It has to be done.
Mr President,
My delegation will do everything it can to display a solution here in Kyoto, a
solution based on science, based on justice, based on credibility.
Thank you!
