UNEP Head Hails Entry into Force of Kyoto Protocol

Xinhua China - English: "The United States, although a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol, has neither ratified nor withdrawn from the UN treaty. 'Without doubt, the fight against climate change must integrate the United States of America,' said Toepfer.

    'It is not possible to make an efficient environment policy without the United States,' said Toepfer, adding that the US is needed in this regard because it is a technology power as well as the largest emitter of greenhouse gases.

    Some analysts have argued that without the United States the Kyoto Protocol is more dead than alive.

    However, Toepfer said that UNEP is not so pessimistic, noting that many individual states in the United States are adopting or planning to adopt greenhouse gas reductions in line with the spirit of the protocol."