Dear Friends,

This month has been marked by a major event. Kyoto Protocol entered into force on 16 February 2005. The Kyoto accord aims to curb the air pollution blamed for global warming. It has come into force seven years after it was agreed.

When they adopted the Convention, governments knew that its commitments would not be sufficient to seriously tackle climate change. The accord requires countries to cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

Pollutants are responsible for global warming and negative effects on human health.

Air pollution is thought to be the cause for 1 in 10 deaths due to lung cancer. Additionally it is responsible for 24.000 premature deaths in the UK every year. There is an increasing concern that the threat to public health posed by cities' air pollution is more important than smoking.

Children are more vulnerable than adults to the adverse effects of air pollution. They have increased exposure to many pollutants because they spend more time outside, have higher breathing rates and higher levels of physical activity compared with adults.

In addition the human lung continues to develop through adolescence and exposure to harmful air pollutants during childhood has an important impact on lung development.

The entering into force of the Kyoto Protocol is an important step forwards. But we cannot avoid to express our disappointment that the United States, the world's top polluter, has not signed up to the treaty. The United States government says the changes would be too costly to introduce and that the agreement is flawed.

You will find more useful information in the article Pollution impact on human health of our 25th monthly Progressive Newsletter  that I am sure you will find interesting.

Governments, industries, businesses, environmental NGOs and other relevant bodies should participate in the efforts and mechanisms provided by the Kyoto protocol in order to provide a safer, cleaner and healthier environment.
 

Takis A. Haggiandreou
Director

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