Doc. 10425

25 January 2005

Beyond Kyoto: the second pillar in the fight against climate change – accumulation of carbon dioxide

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mr Toshev and others

1.       Reaffirming its support for the Kyoto Protocol for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, which entering into force is forthcoming,

2.       Taking into account the need for encouraging as well the development of the second pillar in the fight against climate change, which is based on the recapturing of carbon dioxide into the living matter through the process of photosynthesis,

3.       Considering the deforestation and pollution of the world ocean as a serious threat to the self-regulatory potential of nature through destroying its ecological cycles and mechanisms.

Recommends that the Committee of Ministers:

1.       consider the need for the establishment of a global policy for promotion of the second pillar in the fight against climate change based on the accumulation of carbon dioxide by the green plants,

2.       urge member states to set up national policies and action plans for the restoration of forest, cleaning of rivers and seas, which will be supportive of the process for capturing of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere,

3.       create – similar to the “Market for trade to reduce greenhouse gas emissions” – a mechanism which will give an opportunity to the main producers of carbon dioxide emissions to plant forest and to invest in cleaning water resources in their own or in another state, in order to contribute to the fight against climate change,

4.       find the most appropriate way to co-ordinate these activities on a European and global level, including through co-operation with the United Nations bodies and other international institutions and organisations.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed ¹:

TOSHEV, Latchezar, Bulgaria, EPP/CD

AGER, Hans, Austria, EPP/CD

DROMBERG, Kaarina, Finland, EPP/CD

FRUNDA, György, Romania, EPP/CD

GUBERT, Renzo, Italy, EPP/CD

LINDBLAD, Göran, Sweden, EPP/CD

MATUŠIĆ, Frano, Croatia, EPP/CD

MIGNON, Jean-Claude, France, EPP/CD

NÉMETH, Zsolt, Hungary, EPP/CD

SAMOILOVSKA-CVETANOVA, Ganka, "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", EPP/CD

SASI, Kimmo, Finland, EPP/CD

SPINDELEGGER, Michael, Austria, EPP/CD

van WINSEN, Bart, Netherlands, EPP/CD

WOHLWEND, Renate, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group