KIEV, Nov. 19 – The National Ecological Centre of Ukraine (NECU) calls on Ukrainian authorities not to give up participation in the second commitment period of the Kyoto protocol.

"We've learned that in response to the inquiry of the State Environmental Investment Agency, the cabinet ordered the Economic Development and Trade Ministry to assess the appropriateness of participation in the second commitment period of the Kyoto protocol. The state agency says that without the transfer of emission quotas, Ukraine will not be able to fulfill the declared international commitments," the coordinator of the climate change programs at the NECU, Maria Storchylo, said at a press conference in Kiev.

"The assumption is groundless. Ukraine even could outstrip the declared commitments without the transfer of unused quotas. One could assume that the state agency simply plans to sell extra quotas to other countries," she added.