In its new publication, the United Nations Climate Change secretariat confirms that developed countries, taken as a group, have achieved sizable emission reductions. Compared to the 1990 levels, overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of these countries were down 5.9% in 2003. But the secretariat warns that further efforts are required to sustain these reductions and to cut the emissions further.
“National efforts to implement the Climate Change Convention and to prepare for the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol have already resulted in emission reductions”, said Richard Kinley, acting head of the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). But Mr. Kinley emphasized that a large part of these reductions was achieved in the early 1990s in countries of Eastern and Central Europe undergoing transition to a market economy. “What we see is that the emissions from developed countries as a group have been stable in recent years and not decreased as they did in the early 1990s. Moreover, GHG projections indicate the possibility of emission growth by 2010. It means that ensuring sustained and deeper emission reductions remains a challenge for developed countries.” These findings are supported by the new UNFCCC publication, “Key GHG data”. It is the first UNFCCC publication covering all GHG data officially submitted by developed and developing countries under the Climate Change Convention. The publication includes data on greenhouse gas emissions from 40 developed and 121 developing countries, presented in a reader-friendly form. The UNFCCC secretariat is confident that “Key GHG data” will become a recognized source of authoritative, transparent and easy-to-read information on greenhouse gas emissions. All available information on this report: <http://unfccc.int/essential_background/background_publications_htmlpdf/items/3604.php> The link to the full report, available for download: http://unfccc.int/files/essential_background/background_publications_htmlpdf/application/pdf/key_ghg_data_web.pdf Note to journalists: For further information, please contact the Press Office: Ms. Carrie Assheuer, Public Information and Media Assistant, tel.: (+49-228) 815-1005; Mr. John Hay, Spokesman, tel.: (+49-228) 815-1404, mobile: (+49-172) 258-6944. See also <http://unfccc.int>. --- You are currently subscribed to climate-l as: [email protected] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Subscribe to IISD Reporting Services' free newsletters and lists for environment and sustainable development policy professionals at http://www.iisd.ca/email/subscribe.htm
