200 climate scientists sign Bali declaration; call for 50 percent reduction in emissions by 2050; say planet has 10-15 years to reduce, or else

In Indonesia, 200 climate scientists declared that governments had 10 to 15 years to create a decline in global emissions, and that emission reductions needed to be 50 percent by 2050.

The declaration was circulated at the UN Conference on Climate Chane now entering its fourth day of meetings in Bali, Indonesia, where nations continue to squabble over emissions targets. The United States Senate voted in committee to implement a cap-and-trade system for producers, utilities and transportation: a first for the non-Kyoto signatory. The bill now moves the the full Senate for consideration, although officials in Bali hailed the move as a sign that the United States is moving to engage on the issue of stricter emissions controls.

Participants at the UN Conference on Climate Change in Bali hope to frame a successor to the 1997 Kyoto Accord, which expires in 2012. There have been extensive global preparations for Bali.

Last month in Singapore, ASEAN members signed a declaration at the ASEAN climate change conference in which the 10 member nations pledged to support the UN climate change in Bali In December. The declaration also pledged the members to work cooperatively to promote the use of renewable and alternative sources of energy including solar, wind, hydro and biofuels.

In other pre-Bali preparation, the IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) group met in October with Bali on the agenda, while a two-day conference of the 17 “Heavy Smoker” major polluting nations ended with disappointment over President George Bush’s call for voluntary emission targets set by each individual country.

The British climate envoy called the US “isolated” and the South African Environment Minister said “the US needs to go back to the drawing board”.

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