Britain slams US over global warming
Britain has bluntly criticised the US for being one of the world’s worst polluters and not doing enough to tackle global warming.
Britain’s ambassador to the UN, Emyr Jones Parry, said yesterday: “It is important that climate change rises up the US agenda.”
Jones Parry singled out the US for its poor record on global warming at an event yesterday marking the entry into force of the Kyoto protocol.
The pact, which went into effect on Wednesday, imposes limits on emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases blamed for rising world temperatures, melting glaciers and rising oceans.
The US has refused to ratify the agreement, saying it would harm its economy and is flawed by the lack of restrictions on emissions by emerging economies such as China and India.
But Jones Parry called for a “strong US contribution” to international talks on cutting down emissions beyond the targets already set under the Kyoto agreement.
“We need much more effort. The post-Kyoto regime will require serious, concerted international commitment. Too many countries are still unwilling or unable to take steps to combat climate change.”
Britain has made climate change a top priority this year for its presidency of the G8 group of the world’s wealthy nations, and its presidency of the EU.
Jones Parry called global warming an “urgent problem,” pointing to the fact that five hottest years on record have all been since 1997. The number of people affected around the world by floods had gone up from seven million a year to 150 million, he added.
Jones Parry singled out the US as one of the world’s worst polluters, saying that while America has 4% of the world’s population, it is responsible for a fifth of global emissions.
“It consumes almost a quarter of the world’s energy, more than China, Russia and Japan combined. The average American citizen produces 21 tons of carbon per year, twice that of a British or Japanese citizen,” he said.
Jones Parry said the if the US wanted to reduce its dependence on foreign oil, part of the answer would be to use less energy and encourage consumers and industry to switch to alternative energy supplies.
