May 10, 2000 / from a press release
WASHINGTON, May 10 /PRNewswire/ -- "Today the Appropriations Committee
considers a bill that would block the U.S. from working with the
international community to address the threat of global warming. The
Emerson/Knollenberg rider on the Agriculture Appropriations bill must be
stopped.
"World Wildlife Fund sees a vote for this rider as a vote against the
environment-a vote against curbing global warming. We encourage members of
the Appropriations Committee to support Representative DeLauro's efforts to
delete this language, for the sake of the environment.
"American's have shown time and again that they care about the future of the
world's wildlife and wild spaces. Global warming threatens habitats around
the world, and this rider would prevent the U.S. from protecting the
environment that American's care about."
BACKGROUND
This rider prohibits funds to be used for the Kyoto Protocol with special
emphasis on emissions trading schemes and the Clean Development Mechanisms-
preventing the U.S. from protecting its interests in negotiating an
international treaty on climate change. If this rider passes, U.S. hands
will be tied and government officials will be barred from:
* sharing the experiences fighting pollution with market-based mechanisms
* creating market opportunities for several U.S. industrial sectors abroad
The U.S. would be prohibited from providing the much-needed technical
assistance to developing countries so that they may build the capacity to
effectively limit greenhouse gas emissions and share the responsibility to
fight climate change. In fact, the rider may be unconstitutional in that it
attempts to override the Executive Branch's authority and represent U.S.
interests to negotiate treaties prior to submission to the Senate for
ratification.
(posted without permission)
