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August 1, 2001
ROCKEFELLER OPPOSES KYOTO PROTOCOL IN CURRENT FORM: URGES BUSH TO GET BACK TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Stating that the Kyoto Protocol in its current form is fatally flawed, Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) today reiterated that President Bush should "demonstrate international leadership" by resuming negotiations to combat global warming.
"In its current form, I cannot support the Kyoto Protocol because it doesn’t address two of the most fundamental requirements of any international pact. First, United States business must be protected, and second, developing countries like China and India, must be expected to participate," Rockefeller said.
"Global warming poses a serious threat to our children’s future and ultimately the existence of humankind. The United States has a responsibility to help find a solution to the global climate change dilemma. Either Kyoto must be revised or we are going to need to arrive at a new agreement altogether," Rockefeller added.
As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Rockefeller today voted in support of a unanimous, bipartisan amendment to the FY ‘02 Foreign Relations authorization bill that expresses a sense of Congress that, "the United States should demonstrate international leadership and responsibility in mitigating the health, environmental, and economic threats posed by global warming."
Specifically, the Amendment which passed by a 19-0 vote, calls on the Bush Administration to demonstrate international leadership on global warming by:
--Participating in the international negotiations, including putting forth a plan at the next talks, with the objective of securing U.S. participation in a revised Kyoto Protocol or other binding agreement that protects the economic interests of the United States, and recognizes the shared international responsibility for solving the climate change dilemma, including developing country participation;
--Creating flexible international and domestic mechanisms -- that will not hurt U.S. economic interests -- such as joint implementation, technology deployment, emissions trading and carbon sequestration; and
--Taking responsible action to ensure significant and meaningful reductions in emission of all greenhouse gases.
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