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Written By Renny Turangga

Australia got big applause from the world two days ago when Kevin Rudd finally signed The Kyoto Protocol. Did U.S feel isolated because of this action?

It was very interesting to follow the U.S Delegation Press Conference on Dec 3, 2007. The speaker, D. Harlan L. Watson, Senior Climate Negotiator and Special Representative and Alternate Head of U.S Delegation in COP 13, answered lots of enthusiastic questions from media around the world.

It is obvious that at COP 13, U.S tried to make impression that they are 'serious' in handling climate change and ready to cooperate. Emissions are global and the response, to be environmentally effective, will need to be global. It needs to include  U.S and world's largest greenhouse gas emissions, while respecting national circumstances," said Dr. Watson. It was a very 'smart' statement that they don't want to be interrupted in economic growth, but they still want to be involved in reducing emission.

In this press conference U.S also delivered some facts that they actually don't pollute that much. "From 2000-2005, the population of U.S grew by some 5% or 14 million people, our Gross Domestic Product grew by 12% or about $1.2 trillion., while our greenhouse gas emissions increased by only 1.6 percent. Latest estimates show that from 2005-2006, our economy grew by 2.9 %, but our greenhouse gas emissions actually decrease by 1.5 %." Dr. Watson explained.

U.S also claimed themselves leader in conservation. "Ävoided deforestation is priority for Indonesia and many developing countries, and it will be a focus of discussion in Bali," Watson said. "Ü.S is an international leader in promoting forest conservation.  Under our Tropical Forest Conservation Act, we have concluded with 12 countries debt-for-nature agreements that are generating $163 to help conserve up 20 million hectares of important tropical forests around the world," Watson said proudly.

Closing his Q & A session, Dr. Watson said something about the issue of 2 degree. "We're not going to come to an agreement here on any particular temperature scale as target or emission reduction target.  Our purpose here is to establish a process which is going to lead to what we hope will be in two intense years of negotiations and we'll get to those issues down the road. They won't be decided here, however," said Watson.

By their statements in the UNFCCC press conference on Dec 3, the same day when Australia signed Kyoto Protocol, was there any sign that U.S feel isolated? It's rather obvious that they are still have self confidence and enough proud as usually.

       

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3.21 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."