"Let us not be deceived when we look at a clear blue sky into thinking that all is well. All is not well205Let us stop being economically defensive and start being politically courageous," U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan stated in the plenary session of the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Monday. "Poverty and environmental degradation, if unchecked, spell catastrophe for our world. That is clear," said the British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
But a European push to set higher targets for using wind and solar energies faced stiff resistance from the United States and some developing nations. A proposal to rapidly expand the use of clean, renewable energy technologies around the globe, calls for these sources to account for 15% of the world's total energy production by 2010. According to AP News, sources sitting in on the negotiations said delegates from the United States, Saudi Arabia and other industrialized and oil states were lobbying to eliminate the provision and set no specific goals. The U.S., Canada and other large energy producers also opposed a provision requiring industrialized nations to phase out some subsidies for their energy industries, those which do not support sustainable development (in the U.S. renewable sources provide only 1% of the nation's total power supply).
The United States is a leader in such renewable energy technology but believes an ``arbitrary target'' is less important than focusing on cleaner use of all energy sources, said U.S. Assistant Secretary of State John Turner. ``We want it to be more comprehensive and look at energy security,'' Turner said.
South Africa's environment minister, Valli Moosa, said targets for renewable energy usage - often more expensive than other sources of energy - were a rich country's luxury. ``We will not support binding targets for renewable energies for developing countries,'' he said.
Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien confirmed Monday that he would submit the Kyoto Protocol to his parliament by year's end for approval.
But with the United States holding out, the accord cannot take effect unless Russia - another crucial holdout - signs on. The European Union urged Russia to ratify it quickly.
If I remember well, only in the last 10 years we succeeded to exterminate another 10 life species from this planet. Lots to go, some may say. I live you with some insightful quotes attributed to the former Texas governor, who is promising us that "the future will be better tomorrow" ;o)) :
"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it."
"I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future."
"I stand by all the misstatements that I've made."
"We are ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not occur."
"It's time for the human race to enter the solar system."
