Originally published January 8 2006
UN's new Kyoto Protocol seeks to include richer nations that lead the world in fossil fuel emissions
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
In an attempt to avoid a situation that would allow powerful nations to reject the Kyoto Protocol yet again, the United Nations is taking care to shape the new version of the Protocol to accommodate nations like China and the U.S., whose economies would be hit the hardest by new standards for emission reductions.
Environment ministers are setting down positions on the future shape of the Kyoto Protocol, the United Nations pact that seeks to cut greenhouse gases that stoke global warming.
With the exception of the United States, nations were nearing a consensus in Montreal Thursday for holding negotiations over the next couple of years on commitments after Kyoto's pledging period runs out in 2012.
Scientists say that this "son of Kyoto" must deliver swingeing cuts in carbon emissions, otherwise the Earth will suffer catastrophic damage to its climate system within 10 years.
Such reductions, though, will only be possible if they embrace the world's biggest polluters: the US, which walked away from Kyoto in 2001; China, which as a developing country is currently exempt from emissions reductions; and India, another fast-growing nation.
The US was isolated after stalwart ally Australia backed the Canadian initiative.
"We can only make meaningful global greenhouse gas reductions if effective action is taken by all the major emitting countries," Australian Environment Minister Ian Campbell said.
Reducing pollution requires tougher fuel efficiency and a switch to alternative energies and clean technology that have had a hard time establishing themselves in the market.
The US has campaigned for a voluntary approach, backed by technical innovation and so-called partnerships with developing countries.
But this strategy has found little resonance in Montreal, where many countries - while acknowledging the potential usefulness of bilateral accords - said the UN was the right place to tackle global warming.
Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin jabbed at his neighbor.
"To all those countries that are still reticent, including the United States, I want to say this: We have a global conscience and now is time to listen to that conscience," he said.
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