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Australia dumps Kyoto treaty

The Australian government has told a delegation from the European Union that it will not ratify the Kyoto International Treaty on climate change.

The delegation was visiting Australia in advance of the next round of climate change talks to be held in Germany in just over a week.

The United States has already withdrawn from the Kyoto Protocol, citing fears for the impact it would have on the US economy the exclusion of developing countries.

The Australian Environment Minister, Senator Robert Hill, says his government will not ratify the treaty as its rules have not been confirmed and it lacks the agreement of the United States.

The European Union's commissioner for the environment, Margot Wallstrom, says they mainly wanted to ensure that Australia was prepared to negotiate seriously at the next round of talks in Germany.

She says says the European Union remains willing to ratify the treaty but acknowledges the different stance of other countries.

Environment Minister Robert Hill and the visiting EU delegation outlined their respective positions on the issue at a joint press conference in Sydney.

He said Australia is waiting for the US, which is responsible for 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions, to sign up before it makes a commitment.

The federal cabinet will settle Australia's negotiating position for Bonn on Monday.

Senator Hill said Australia was committed to an effective international process and one that was fair to all parties.

"Our position is that, in terms of all of us wanting to get an effectual international outcome, to settle rules without the US being party is, in effect, to shut the door," he said.

But Wallstrom said waiting for the US to ratify the protocol was not a good strategy.

"Of course, it's a weakened protocol without the United States, but we don't want to wait for the United States," she said.

"I don't think waiting for the United States is a good tactic or a good strategy. I think it's very much like waiting for someone who has declined an invitation and I think we ought to to instead try to do our best to get an agreement in Bonn, making it possible for the United States to come back."

EU delegation head Olivier Deleuze said Bonn was not the "end of the road" in terms of negotiations but the situation was one of "crucial urgency".

The EU delegation will travel to Japan early next week, where it is expected to make an impassioned pitch for Japan to ratify the treaty even if Washington does not.

Japanese Environment Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi will visit the US next week for talks to try and rescue the Kyoto protocol.

The protocol must be ratified by 55 countries to become operational. An Australia Institute report, commissioned by the Australian Conservation Foundation and released this week, showed Australia could have the casting vote.

© Reuters, RNZ

-- Anonymous, July 07, 2001

Answers

Well, on the upside downunder, they did cut down on the emissions from firearms...

-- Anonymous, July 07, 2001