165 countries approve Kyoto rules in Marrakesh
Regional, Environment, 11/10/2001

International delegates agreed on Saturday to the first-ever rules aimed at stopping global warming at the end of their meeting in Marrakesh Saturday.

Negotiators meeting in Marrakech smoothed over differences in how to enforce the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which calls for cuts in carbon dioxide and other "greenhouse gases" suspected in global warming.

All 165 participating countries approved the full set of rules later Saturday morning.

The Kyoto Protocol requires industrial countries to scale back emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by an average of 5 percent from their 1990 levels by 2012.

Delegates said the agreement opened the way for ratification by enough countries to bring the treaty into force, probably before a global environment summit next September. The summit will mark the 10th anniversary of the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, when countries adopted the first voluntary measures aimed at stopping climate change.

The treaty needs ratification by 55 countries, including those that produced 55 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in 1990.

The mechanisms are designed to help countries meet their targets by buying or selling credits on an international financial market, or by reducing their quota by expanding forests and farmland that soak up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Scientists say glaciers are already melting and rain patterns are shifting because of global warming. Over the next century, temperatures could increase by as much as 10 degrees, possibly raising sea levels and causing more intense storms and droughts.

Previous Stories:
  Arab environment ministers meet in Cairo   (10/24/2001)
  Marrakesh talks set to reach agreement to make Kyoto pact operational, un official   (10/23/2001)
  Marrakech climate talks to finalize Kyoto rulebook   (10/11/2001)

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