WASHINGTON, D.C. - Governments and businesses will take a major step forward in reducing the Earth's greenhouse gas emissions next Wednesday, February 16, when the landmark Kyoto Protocol comes into effect for all industrialized countries except the United States and Australia.

There have already been many encouraging results of having an official agreement in place between nations. For instance, the 25 countries of the European Union launched their multibillion-dollar Emissions Trading Scheme in January; the United Kingdom has already achieved emissions reductions that exceed its Kyoto targets; France this month announced details of a plan to triple its biofuel output; Japan has set industry and fossil fuel taxes; and Canada is advancing a domestic emissions trading program. Even China and India, regarded as essential to any long-term climate solution, have incorporated climate actions into energy and development policies, spurred considerably by the Kyoto process.

"Kyoto coming into force is a positive step," said Jonathan Pershing, director, Climate and Energy Program, WRI. "It makes clear that the world will take this problem seriously, and establishes a framework for addressing it."

Unfortunately, scientific evidence increasingly suggests that climate change is already occurring and may proceed at faster rates than previously thought. And while the Kyoto Protocol represents progress, the World Resources Institute (WRI) notes that governments and businesses must aggressively prepare further reforms if the most serious effects are to be averted.

"In particular, it remains critical that the U.S. engage with the global community in developing and implementing next steps. With 21 percent of global GHG emissions and enormous technical and technological capacity, it is impossible to imagine a successful climate future without active U.S. participation," Pershing added.

WRI notes that even though the U.S. has not ratified the agreement, some action is underway, particularly at the state level. Nearly 40 U.S. states have developed their own climate plans, an emission-trading system is emerging in the Northeast states, and nearly 20 states have adopted aggressive standards for renewable energy. Additionally, there have been more than 100 congressional proposals related to climate policy - from representatives of nearly every state - in the past two years.

Businesses too are beginning to take emissions reductions more seriously. Fortune 500 company efforts include purchases of green power by Staples, use of landfill gas by General Motors to produce power in its manufacturing facilities, and General Electric's significant investment in developing its wind-power and solar-energy businesses.

"Companies across many sectors are realizing a growing need to produce renewable energy and incorporate efficiency measures," said Jim Harmon, chairman of the board, WRI, and chairman of the financial advisory firm Harmon & Co. "Because of Kyoto, many global companies whose business transactions cross borders now must deal with legislation on GHG emissions."

Journalists who would like to interview WRI's climate experts, please contact:
Paul Mackie, WRI Media Officer, +1(202) 729-7684, pmackie@wri.org

The World Resources Institute (www.wri.org) is an environmental research and policy organization that creates solutions to protect the Earth and improve people's lives.

World Resources Institute

World Resources Institute

The World Resources Institute (WRI) is an environmental think tank that goes beyond research to find practical ways to protect the earth and improve people's lives. Our mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth's environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations. Because people are inspired by ideas, empowered by knowledge, and moved to change by greater understanding, WRI provides—and helps other institutions provide—objective information and practical proposals for policy and institutional change that will foster environmentally sound, socially equitable development. WRI organizes its work around four key goals:

People & Ecosystems: Reverse rapid degradation of ecosystems and assure their capacity to provide humans with needed goods and services.

Access: Guarantee public access to information and decisions regarding natural resources and the environment.

Climate Protection: Protect the global climate system from further harm due to emissions of greenhouse gases and help humanity and the natural world adapt to unavoidable climate change.

Markets & Enterprise: Harness markets and enterprise to expand economic opportunity and protect the environment.

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