[Milan-Cop9] "UN to allow GM-Trees for producing carbon credits"
vlo | 10.12.2003 11:28 | Ecology | Globalisation | Technology
Diplomats made a draft-plan at the Cop9 Climate Conference in Milan Tuesday that includes genetically-modified trees as a means to generate carbon credits. According to proponents, trees soak up carbon and can be used to reduce the quantity of CO2 in the air, one of the six main greenhousegases. Ministers will arrive in Milan on Wednesday to further discuss.
Propaganda on www.enn.com, GM-trees that grow high and birds like it.
The AFP brings the issue as progress: "The agreement made at an Environmental summit in Milan will allow scientists to develop fast-growing trees with a maximized capability of storing carbon dioxide, one of the gases thought likely to be responsible for the heating of the earth's atmosphere." While including GMO-trees in the Kyoto Protocol will actually make it even economically affordable to replace the trees at your local park by GM-trees.
Among other states, Canada, Argentina and China see benefits from planting "fast-growing disease-resistant GMOs". They were arguing for their inclusion while countries wary of GMO crops like EU nations were opposed, environmental groups told Reuters.
The Ministers of the member states will arrive today to come with a conclusion about this draft plan. According to the plan, states who are to allow genetically-modified forests in their grounds, must carry out detailed risk assessments and avoid the planting of what are known as invasive species trees - those that drive out species native to the region.
Yet, there is still no real agreement, it is the draft plan ministers will further discuss the coming days. An Italian spokesman actually said the agreement was thrashed out by the German and Brazilian co-presidents of the conference, AFP reports.
The forest deal is one of the last to define the flexible mechanisms of Kyoto, means by which countries and companies can produce carbon reduction permits (carbon credits). The use of "sinks" (trees and other green that absorb carbon) is one of the most controversial issues of the Kyoto Protocol. Delegates has turned a complete blind eye to research that actually says sinks will not help anything. Under the flexible mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol, companies, consumers and countries can earn and trade their 'cabron credits'.The sinks would be included with the Clean Development Mechanism, originally intended to make it possible for developing countries to get cheap technology.
Other issues that are addressed in Milan include a fund to help developing nations adapt to the feared impact of global warming, ranging from desertification to the melting of polar icecaps. It is clear, the United Nations falls way too short to address instability of the climate, and is already looking for ways to help those countries that will suffer the most. Radical action is needed.
More on the Climate Conference in Milan, the issues under discussion in Milano and various links, see
Debates And Actions Around Climate Conference In Milan
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2003/12/282600.html
Among other states, Canada, Argentina and China see benefits from planting "fast-growing disease-resistant GMOs". They were arguing for their inclusion while countries wary of GMO crops like EU nations were opposed, environmental groups told Reuters.
The Ministers of the member states will arrive today to come with a conclusion about this draft plan. According to the plan, states who are to allow genetically-modified forests in their grounds, must carry out detailed risk assessments and avoid the planting of what are known as invasive species trees - those that drive out species native to the region.
Yet, there is still no real agreement, it is the draft plan ministers will further discuss the coming days. An Italian spokesman actually said the agreement was thrashed out by the German and Brazilian co-presidents of the conference, AFP reports.
The forest deal is one of the last to define the flexible mechanisms of Kyoto, means by which countries and companies can produce carbon reduction permits (carbon credits). The use of "sinks" (trees and other green that absorb carbon) is one of the most controversial issues of the Kyoto Protocol. Delegates has turned a complete blind eye to research that actually says sinks will not help anything. Under the flexible mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol, companies, consumers and countries can earn and trade their 'cabron credits'.The sinks would be included with the Clean Development Mechanism, originally intended to make it possible for developing countries to get cheap technology.
Other issues that are addressed in Milan include a fund to help developing nations adapt to the feared impact of global warming, ranging from desertification to the melting of polar icecaps. It is clear, the United Nations falls way too short to address instability of the climate, and is already looking for ways to help those countries that will suffer the most. Radical action is needed.
More on the Climate Conference in Milan, the issues under discussion in Milano and various links, see
Debates And Actions Around Climate Conference In Milan
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2003/12/282600.html
vlo
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gmo on kyoto protocol
10.12.2003 23:39
Nations including Canada, Argentina and China, which see benefits from planting fast-growing disease-resistant GMOs, were arguing for their inclusion on Kyoto protocol issus about forestry as carbon sinks. Countries wary of GMO crops like EU nations were opposed, in particular France, that in the first phases seemed to agree the use of gmo trees. Those discussions are going on on those days in the working groups at Milano-Cop9, which lasts till the 12 of december. In the last days the proposal of thecnical teams will be approved or not by the heads of government.
A project has been yet promoted by Australia, which is founding a plantation in Vietnam of 8.000 hectares of gmo acacia and eucaliptus. The plants seems to growth more than 15 % more than the others. And the conslusion is that since them are growing more, they must absorb more carbon dioxide. Like in the cotton cultivation (that in India has failed the aspectations) or in other gmo plants,where biotech has not affected the production, this has to be proved in the long time.
Another problem is that the use of gmo in the carbon sinks plantations strongly lower the local biodiversity. There is no plan of treacebility and there is no possibility for the country which host the gmo plantation to know if they are buying carbon credits ogm or ogm free.
original location:
teresa , 10.12.2003 21:30
Global ban on gm-trees - sign a petition to UN
18.01.2004 21:27
Dear indymedia people!
I happy to tell about a new internet action against gm-trees.
Please visit the site:
We are also interested about cooperation to make a videodocument about the gm-tree situation in different countries.
For more information
please contact:
best for you
Hannu Hyvönen
Hannu Hyvönen
e-mail:
ekometsa@sci.fi
Homepage:
http://elonmerkki.net/forestforum