Protesters gathered outside the United States consulate in Johannesburg on Wednesday, the day the international climate treaty known as the Kyoto Protocol came into force.
The US, said to be the biggest polluter in the world, has not signed the treaty.
Demonstrators waved banners saying ”Stop US climate crime” and ”Beat the heat, beat the Bush”. The latter is a reference to US President George Bush.
The protesters came from various environmental organisations, but the most vocal among them were members of the South African Communist Party and the Anti-Privatisation Forum (APF).
APF member Mazito Sibayeni said he does not like the US style of government.
”He [Bush] is just capitalising on us. If this carries on, there will be more and more disasters like the tsunami. The US must mitigate [greenhouse gas emissions],” he said.
Scientists have warned that increasing levels of greenhouse gases are raising temperatures on earth, and will result in more unexpected and disastrous weather conditions.
South African Climate Action Network representative Elin Lorimer handed a letter of protest to the US consul general, calling on that country to take part in global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Except for the US and Australia, which has also refused to sign the agreement, all other developed countries have agreed to targets to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases to 1990 levels.
As industry is the major emitter of these gases, reduction is likely to come with economic costs.
The US and Australia object that the agreement is unfair, because developing countries such as China do not have to reduce, or even control, their emissions. — Sapa