A Solomon Islands delegation attending the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali, Indonesia, arrived Sunday.
Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Forestry, Environment and Conservation, Charles Viva, led the delegation.Speaking with a member of the delegation, Tony Kagovai, Solomon Times was told that the highlight of the meeting was the new Prime Minister for Australia, Kevin Rudd, who signed the Kyoto Protocol.
The Kyoto Protocol was adopted at the third Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP 3) in Kyoto, Japan, on 11 December 1997, after two and a half years of intense negotiations.
The Kyoto Protocol entered into force on 16 February 2005.
Mr. Kagovai revealed that the United States still refuses to sign the Kyoto Protocol.
"The US, while agreeing with researches made by the scientists, still does not want to be committed in any agreement," added Mr. Kangovai.
He said that in developing countries, there's a big number of carbon dioxide released out in the air over the years.
"Carbon dioxide that goes out contributes to climate change, which has its effects such as sea rise, tidal wave and other weather pattern changes that occur," said Mr. Kangovai.
Mr. Kangovai said that the meeting was well presented and well attended, especially by a good cross-section of stakeholders.