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442169 Japan - Kyoto Treaty comes into force, arrivals, speeches APTN Tokyo - 16 Feb 2005 The Kyoto global warming pact came into force on Wednesday, imposing limits on emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases scientists blame for increasing temperatures, melting glaciers and rising sea levels. The agreement, negotiated in Japan''s ancient capital of Kyoto in 1997 and ratified by 140 nations, officially came into force at midnight New York time (0500 GMT). Environmental officials, gathered in the convention hall where the accord was adopted, hailed the protocol as an historic first step in the battle against global warming and urged the world to further strengthen safeguards against greenhouse gases. The protocol targets carbon dioxide and five other gases that can trap heat in the atmosphere, and are believed to be behind rising global temperatures that many scientists say are already disrupting the Earth''s environment and weather patterns. The United States, the world''s largest emitter of such gases, has refused to ratify the agreement, saying it would harm the economy and is flawed by the lack of restrictions on emissions by emerging economies China and India. The Kyoto agreement was delayed by the requirement that countries accounting for 55 percent of the world''s emissions must ratify it. That goal was reached last year, nearly seven years after the pact was negotiated, with Russia''s approval. Russia ratified the treaty, but only after intense debate among top Kremlin officials about whether the pact would harm Russia''s growing economy. Earlier on Wednesday, five World Wildlife Fund (WWF) activists dressed as polar bears gathered in a Tokyo shopping district to celebrate the implementation of the protocol. The impact of global warming is more evident at the poles. According to the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) report last November, the North Pole would no longer be covered in ice during summer by 2100 if global warming wasn''t slowed. The Kyoto targets vary by region: the European Union is committed to cutting emissions to eight percent below 1990 levels by 2012; the United States to a seven percent reduction before US President George W Bush denounced the protocol in 2001. 1. Various of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) demonstrators dressed in polar bear costumes, handing bags to people 2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jennifer Morgan, Director of Climate Change Programme: "The polar bear is one of the most threatened creatures from global warming, so what we wanted to do is to get people to understand that so much is at stake and that climate change has such an impact on living creatures, such as polar bears and all kinds of people around the world. But there is a hope that actually there is some kind of courage to do something about it, so today is a day of cerebration because we need to save the polar bears and other creatures." 3. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Voxpop, Kyoto Protocol supporter: "The conference was seven years ago and it has been a long time, but the protocol has finally come into force, so I am excited and glad." 4. Various of activists dressed as polar bears cerebrating 502080 Kenya - Opening ceremony of Climate Conference AP Television Nairobi - 6 Nov 2006 1. Wide of delegates seated inside conference centre 2. MS of Moody Awori, Kenyan Vice Preseident arriving and sitting down 3. Various of singers welcoming delegates 4. MS of Moody Awori delivering speech UPSOUND (English " Disaster such as droughts and famine are as a reult of climate change which we must boldly face and accept as a challenge to all of us...."(continues over next hot) 5. MS of delegates listening to Awori UPSOUND "...Reducing the vulnerability of those most at risk." You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/02d8c9b3dae6504352e2ab52fb95441f Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork