| International Agreements | |
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| In September 1987, the leading industrial nations, including Britain, were signatories to the Montreal Protocol, in which they agreed to specific reductions in the production and use of five of the most harmful CFC ozone depleting gases known at the time. In Helsinki in May 1989, 81 nations committed themselves in principle to ban eight industrial chemicals that damage the stratospheric ozone layer by the year 2080 AD. |
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The United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, June 1992, produced a UN Framework Convention on Climate Change that committed signatory countries to reducing emission of greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4 and N2O) to their 1990 levels by the year 2000. At Kyoto, in December 1997, developed countries agreed to a cut of just 5.2% (of 1990 level) to be achieved between 2008 and 2012. The US Congress has refused to ratify their US Kyoto commitment Europe has committed to reduce greenhouse gases by 12% of the 1990 levels by 2008 / 2012 with the UK volunteering to a 12.5% cut in the same period. Whilst this is laudable, experts say that cuts of 60 - 80% are necessary to stabilise the global climate. What can the UK Government do? In order to meet its commitment the UK government is encouraging energy efficiency (Best Practice Programme run by the Energy Efficiency Office) on the one hand, and introducing taxes on freight transport and industrial energy on the other. Such pressures from the Government should be accompanied by improvements in public transport, reduction in National Insurance etc. What can you do? Avoid using ozone depleting chemicals and reduce your use of fossil fuels in:
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