Fed: UK Liberal Democrats and Democrats unite on Kyoto

AAP General News (Australia)
04-05-2001
Fed: UK Liberal Democrats and Democrats unite on Kyoto

CANBERRA, April 5 AAP - The United Kingdom's Liberal Democrats joined the Australian
Democrats today in urging Australia to help persuade United States President George W
Bush to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on global warming.

Liberal Democrats leader Charles Kennedy issued a joint press release with Democrats
leader Meg Lees, saying a concerted diplomatic campaign by Australia and other nations
could sway Mr Bush.

"Taking action without the USA cannot deliver all that we wish to advance," Mr Kennedy
said in the statement.

"I believe that coordinated diplomatic action by the UK, Australia and other nations
is the most productive way of putting pressure on the US to come on board to arrest global
warming."

Australia and the US were blamed last November for the collapse of world climate talks
in The Hague.

Environmentalists had hoped Australia would join other nations to ratify the Kyoto
Protocol to legally bind countries to curb greenhouse emissions.

Environment Minister Robert Hill will travel to the US next week to meet officials
from the US, Europe and other parties to the protocol, just weeks after Mr Bush said he
would not ratify the treaty.

Senator Lees said it was time for Australia to look to the UK and Europe for leadership
on greenhouse gas reductions.

"The UK and Europe are taking a progressive, pragmatic approach to greenhouse gas abatement
that Australia should now emulate," Senator Lees said in the statement.

"These countries understand the need for immediate action. Business as usual is not an option."

AAP/lm/daw/ps/bwl

KEYWORD: US KYOTO AUST (CARRIED EARLIER)

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