AUSTRALIAN PM REMAINS OPPOSED TO KYOTO PROTOCOL
CANBERRA, May 26 Asia Pulse - Prime Minister John Howard today said Australia would not sign the Kyoto Protocol on
climate change, even though implementation of the world agreement was edging closer.
Opposition Leader Mark Latham asked Mr Howard if he would reconsider he position since Russia, a major hurdle to
reaching 55 per cent emissions requirement for ratification, said it was speeding up the process towards signing.
"Australia won't ratify the Kyoto Protocol until the ratification of that protocol will protect the
long-term national interests of this country," Mr Howard told parliament.
"The problem with the Kyoto Protocol, as presently cast, is that developing countries such as Russia and China
would not be subject to the same strictures as developed countries such as Australia.
"If we adhered to the protocol, as requested by the leader of the opposition, that would disadvantage the
resource industries of Australia.
"They would incur burdens that the resource industries of countries like Russia and China would not
incur."
He said he suspected the Labor premiers of resource-rich states like Western Australia and Queensland were far less
enthusiastic about signing the protocol than federal Labor.
"Our position is that we will meet the Kyoto targets set for Australia, 108 (per cent), and we're well on
track to do that," Mr Howard said.
Australia and the United States would be left internationally isolated if Russia were to sign and the protocol come
into effect.
ASIA PULSE
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RUSSIA IN FACTS
