Serious environmental issues are being trivialised for electioneering purposes, according to a green pressure group.

The Bermuda Environmental and Sustainability Taskforce (BEST) today said Government's plans to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, which aims to get nations to limit greenhouse gases, were intended to show that it was a friend to the environment.

But BEST's chairman Stuart Hayward said: "However, given the Government's repeated attempts to circumvent the planning process, and its diversion of funding from open space purchases and enforcement personnel, few Bermudians are likely to be convinced."

Mr. Hayward said any move by Government to seriously address the greenhouse gas issues should be applauded, but he claimed Government showed a 'serious lack of understanding' of the Kyoto Protocol's requirements.

"First, the Bermuda Government has no standing to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and so any claim that it plans to do so is an inflation of the Island's importance," said Mr. Hayward.

"The Government has only the option of joining the UK's ratification, something it could have done at any time since October 2006.

"In addition, if the Government chose not to join the UK ratification prior to announcing an election, an act which dissolved Parliament and effectively cancelled any opportunity for such a far-reaching executive decision to be taken, then the caretaker Cabinet would seem to have no jurisdiction to do so until and if it is reinstated by the electorate.

"In any case, there will need to be a massive overhaul of existing legislation if Bermuda is to limit greenhouse gases. Such an overhaul would require Parliament to be in session, something that cannot occur until after the general election.

"Thus, an announcement of such plans during the run-up to a general election with no possible timetable for actual ratification only reinforces the perception that serious environmental issues are being trivialised for electioneering purposes," added Mr. Hayward.

According to Mr. Hayward, the Kyoto Protocol requires developed economies to "agree to legally binding reductions in greenhouse emissions".

Bermuda, in joining the UK ratification, would be required to reduce greenhouse emissions by eight percent of 1990 levels by the year 2012.

"Without offering calculations of greenhouse gas emissions for the year 1990 and a strategy and timetable for that eight percent reduction, the Government's vague description of reduced emissions is empty and an embarrassment to the Island.

"Instead of reducing greenhouse emissions, the Government's moves to use and permit larger two and four-wheeled vehicles and to encourage high-carbon, luxury hotels will more than likely increase Bermuda's greenhouse gas production.

"Similarly, the construction of multi-storied office and residential buildings in Hamilton to house the growing international business sector will increase, not reduce, Bermuda's greenhouse gas production.

"In addition BELCO's expansion plans further points to significant increase in the Island's per capita energy consumption, already one of the highest in the world, rather than a reduction."

Mr. Hayward also claimed that environmental enforcement personnel have been short-staffed, environmental budgets have been shortchanged and purchases of open space have virtually ceased.

The press release issued earlier this week from Government said it was announcing plans to ratify the Kyoto Protocol to limit emissions of greenhouse gases.

"Bermuda will join the international fight against climate change and demonstrate to the world its commitment to the reduction of the emissions of carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases.

"This is in furtherance of the Government's commitment to addressing global warming, which is a scourge on our planet. Climate change is a global phenomenon that some still do not recognise.

"Nations like Bermuda must be keenly aware of its potential impact because we are a small isolated island.

"This puts us in good company with our fellow Caribbean brothers and sisters, and many in the developing world who have historically made little contribution to global warming, but have and will continue to feel its disproportionate burden.

"Bermuda's contribution to global warming is negligible compared to large industrialized and industrializing nations; however this does not mean that we should not act.

"Therefore, the Government of Bermuda has in the spirit of good government been proactive and forward thinking in regards to how we can reduce our impact on the planet.

"These efforts are good for the world, but just as importantly, they are also good for Bermuda."