UK: Jack Straw welcomes first day of Kyoto

Jack Straw welcomes first day of Kyoto

The Foreign Secretary has hailed the first day of the Kyoto protocol as 'historic'.

Some 141 countries, who account for 61 per cent of all greenhouse gases, have ratified the treaty.

It pledges to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 5.2 per cent by 2012.

These emissions are blamed for global warming and climate change.

Mr Straw said it was an 'historic day for international co-operation.'

"The UK will be leading international efforts to tackle it through our Presidencies of the G8 and the EU."

Meanwhile Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett - who spoke by video link at a ceremony for the treaty in Japan - has announced a £12m package of funding to influence public attitudes towards climate change.

A new 'communications initiative' will help people to understand that global warming is happening 'here and now', she said, and that it will affect us all.

She added:

"It is essential to deepen popular understanding and support for action on climate change, to complement the work we are doing at a national and international level."

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