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Weary Delegates Set Emissions Cuts for Developed Nations
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Because of strong opposition from key senators, it seems possible Clinton might delay presenting the pact to the Senate until the issue of participation by developing nations is considered again at next year's conference. Opponents of the pact said, however, they will waste no time in attacking an accord they believe would cripple the nation's economy.
Even before the conference session ended here this morning, representatives of steel, coal, oil, automotive and other industries that oppose the treaty lambasted it and dared Clinton to send it to the Senate for consideration. Vice President Gore "came to Kyoto wanting a deal very badly, and America got a very bad deal," declared Rep. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.), who said ratification of the pact would mean a loss of U.S. jobs and higher energy costs to consumers.
{In Washington, Gore issued a statement saying the accord "lays a solid foundation for long-term efforts to protect our climate while creating new opportunities for economic growth . . . (but) clearly more work is needed. In particular we will press for meaningful participation by key developing nations. We are confident that can be achieved."
{Clinton also repeated his insistence that developing nations such as China and India ultimately agree to take action too, but expressed satisfaction that the pact "strongly reflects" his views on the use of free-market incentives to promote voluntary reductions by polluters.}
The agreement came together during an overtime round of a fractious conference that brought 2,200 government officials and 8,000 journalists and observers to Kyoto, the ancient Japanese capital. Delegates debated a complex array of issues to a virtual standstill, dashing initial optimism that a compromise could be forged.
A breakthrough in the talks came during a visit Monday to Kyoto by Gore, who instructed U.S. negotiators to take a softer line on emissions targets if other nations would agree to a framework of flexible, market-based implementation programs and on "meaningful participation" by developing countries. European countries responded with their own concessions, and by Wednesday morning delegation leaders were proclaiming that an agreement was within reach.
