LAST November in The Hague, when environment ministers from the European
Union refused to compromise on the Kyoto Protocol, a leading American green
accused them of throwing away 鈥渢he best opportunity to achieve a strong climate
treaty鈥�. How right he was. This week in Bonn, those ministers were forced to
accept a much weaker deal than the one they rejected in The Hague
(see 鈥淜yoto lives鈥�).
Two things need to be said about events in Bonn. First, the EU was right to
accept the least worst deal on offer. The Kyoto Protocol was only ever going to
be a small step towards solving global warming. It is now even smaller. But a
first step is vital and much may flow from it. Secondly, EU ministers should
stop playing to the green gallery. Many are members of their national green
parties and their attitude at The Hague seemed to be: 鈥淣o deal is better than a
bad deal鈥�. This week鈥檚 meeting succeeded against expectations because they
rejected that idealism.
But if they鈥檇 shown the same pragmatism last November, we鈥檇 have a far better
deal now. In some quarters, the Bonn deal is being feted as 鈥渁 triumph for
European diplomacy鈥�. That, simply put, is a travesty.
Advertisement