The Growing Consensus in Europe: European Parliament Votes to Support a Ban on the Traffic in Polar Bear Parts

In what can only be described as a growing consensus within the Continent, today the European Parliament passed a resolution which included language endorsing the United States’ proposal to ban the international commercial trade in polar bear parts.  A vote of the U.S. proposal, which is supported by Russia, will take place in a few weeks in Bangkok at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).  The resolution “Urges the European Union and the Member States to support….the transfer of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from CITES Appendix II to Appendix I, as proposed by the USA and supported by the Russian Federation.”

While the resolution isn’t binding on European Union members states, who met today to discuss coming to a common position on CITES issues, it does reflect the widespread popular support that the U.S. proposal enjoys.

I hope the countries of Europe are listening.