NSW: Howard welcomes US Kyoto announcement
SYDNEY, Feb 15 AAP - US President George W Bush's plan to slow emissions growth inthe United States was a positive step, Prime Minister John Howard said today.
Mr Howard welcomed Mr Bush's announcement despite the president's refusal to ratifythe Kyoto protocol.
"I do think what the president indicates today in his speech is that the Americanshave taken seriously the need to develop an alternative to simply saying `no' to the Kyotoprotocol and I welcome that," he told reporters in Sydney.
"I think it is a very positive thing."
President Bush today announced the plan to slow emissions growth by asking corporatepolluters to voluntarily commit to reducing "greenhouse gas intensity" - the ratio ofemissions to economic output - instead of cutting emissions to pre-1990 levels as laidout in the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.
The United States, which emits about one quarter of the world's man-made "greenhousegases", last year pulled out of the United Nations anti-pollution treaty signed by Bush'spredecessor Bill Clinton, saying it would harm the economy.
Mr Howard said Australia's position on not ratifying the protocol without the UnitedStates and developing countries remained unchanged.
"Our view is that it would not be in Australia's interests to ratify the Kyoto protocolunless and until it included the United States and the developing countries.
"That is based very much on an assessment of Australia's national interests. We area net exporter of energy and unless you have the developing countries involved, we wouldbe hurt," he said.
AAP rcg/jjs/las
KEYWORD: US KYOTO AUST LEAD (REISSUING)
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