Thailand ratifies Kyoto emission reduction pact
Date: 29-Aug-02
Country: THAILAND
Athena Ballesteros, Greenpeace campaign manager for Southeast Asia, told Reuters the ratification was perfectly timed as it coincided with the Earth Summit in Johannesburg where government leaders and environment advocates were meeting.
"I think it sort of puts the bigger countries in particular, the U.S. and Australia and Canada, in a very bad light because a small country like Thailand, compared to those big countries, has taken a significant step forward," Ballesteros said.
Under the protocol, named after the ancient Japanese city where it was signed, industrialised nations must cut emissions of greenhouse gases by an average of five percent over the period 2008-2012, compared with 1990 levels.
The United States, which is responsible for over 30 percent of the world's emissions, says the treaty would hurt its economy while freeing developing countries such as China and India from environmental controls.
Fifty-five nations producing 55 percent of the world's carbon-di-oxide emissions must ratify the pact before it becomes binding. Jakkrit Kaunpoth, an environment law lecturer from Bangkok's Sukhothai Thammathirat University, said the pact was a battle among world superpowers which are yet to ratify the agreement.
"Whether we join the pact or not, we're not going to make any different to the world's environment," Jakkrit said.
"The protocol basically allows industrialised countries to take advantage of developing ones legitimately."