The Australian government indicated yesterday it won't ratify the Kyoto agreement on climate change, drawing immediate criticism from a global meeting of environmental activists.
Australian Environment Minister Senator Robert Hill said the Kyoto Protocol for reducing greenhouse gas emissions was defunct because the US would not ratify it.
"I don't think Kyoto can last without the US," Hill told Seven Network television station from New York. Hill is in the US to assess Washington's stance on greenhouse gas issues.
To come into force, the 1997 treaty requires 55 countries to ratify it. The 55 countries must also be responsible for at least 55 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.
The US produces 25 percent of global emissions. Australia is the world's biggest emitter per head of population, responsible for nearly 2 percent of emissions while accounting for 1 percent of global economic activity.
Hill said Australia would not ratify the treaty ahead of the US.
"We've always said we wouldn't ratify ahead of the US," he said.
President George W. Bush said last month he would back out of the Kyoto Protocol because major developing nations were not covered by it.
Under the agreement, developed countries agreed to legally binding targets for curbing heat-trapping "greenhouse" gases (which are mainly carbon dioxide) from burning fossil fuels.
Hill's comments come as about 800 green politicians and activists from 70 countries attended a three-day Global Greens 2001 conference in Canberra.
Delegates reacted angrily to the Australian position.
"The world's got a pretty simple choice here, it's between President Bush and our grandchildren. Mr [Australian Prime Minister John] Howard has chosen President Bush," said conference host, Australian Greens senator, Bob Brown.
"The US is only 25 percent [of world emissions], it cannot scuttle the Kyoto Protocol," Brown said.
He said Australia should take a lead roll along with Europe, New Zealand and Japan to ratify Kyoto without the US.
Brown claimed the US and Australian governments were attempting to divide Europe and Japan to kill the agreement.
Secretary-general of the German Greens, Rheinhard Butikofer, said he was optimistic the treaty would come into force.
"The European countries, and particularly my own, are putting up a big effort to form a coalition that will go ahead with climate policy even though the Americans are trying to thwart that," he said.
"The world should send a strong message to the Americans indicating that we are not going to accept their arrogance," Butikofer said.
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