Climate Change: Doha conference must set concrete terms and conditions for Kyoto 2 kick-off.

The upcoming climate change conference in Doha must set concrete terms and conditions for the second Kyoto committment period and start working on new targets for the period after 2020. This is the gist of a European Parliament Resolution adopted today. "So far, Kyoto 2 is no more than an empty casing. We need to fill it with concrete pledges, set a robust framework and must strive to get other partners to sign up to it. The new commitment period is an important bridge towards the long-term targets which will be binding globally from 2020", said Karl-Heinz Florenz MEP who co-drafted the Resolution on behalf of the EPP Group.

Parliament calls for further measures alongside new greenhouse gas reduction targets. Sustainable forestry must not be endangered by land-use due to an increased production of biofuels. Developing countries need support in order to avoid deforestation caused by increased agriculture. "Forest protection will be essential as they can stock CO2", said Mr Florenz.

MEPs welcomed developments at the International Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to work on a worldwide emission trading system and on increased efforts in industrialised countries to promote energy efficiency. "Only when developed countries can prove that economic growth can be sustainable by cutting, rather than increasing greenhouse gas emissions, will we be able to tackle global warming", said the EPP Group MEP.

The Doha Conference takes place from 26 November to 8 December.