Australia goes cool on US Kyoto tactics

[rooboy]

The Howard Government has distanced itself for the first time from the United States' hardline attempts to stall international action on global warming.

The Environment Minister, Ian Campbell, has made a point of spelling out key differences with the US after years of standing together - as the only two developed nations that have not signed the Kyoto protocol.

American lobbying at a United Nations climate change conference, described as "atrocious" by Australian environment groups at the meeting, prompted the Government to clarify its policy.

Senator Campbell said Australia did not agree with the US stance against future greenhouse gas targets nor its claim that economic growth and technology innovations will be the only answer to reducing heat-trapping emissions.

"The difference between the US and Australia is that we are prepared to engage in a new agreement as long as it is comprehensive," Senator Campbell said from London, on his way home from the UN conference in Buenos Aires.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Australia-goes-cool-on-US-Kyoto-tactics/2004/12/19/1103391643032.html

[hatrack]

1. My, how brave

BFD.