Howard Defiant On Kyoto At Energy Summit

[hatrack]

SYDNEY : "Australian Prime Minister John Howard defended his country's controversial refusal to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gases as he launched the 19th World Energy Congress in Sydney.

Howard acknowledged Australia's stance on Kyoto was "at variance with the attitudes of many countries around the world" -- it is the only major industrialised nation aside from the United States not to ratify the treaty.

But he told international energy industry powerbrokers gathered for the triennial congress that Australia remained committed to reducing greenhouse gases without ratifying the agreement. "We are unwilling to sign the Kyoto Protocol in its present form because it will impose obligations on Australia which will not be imposed on other large (carbon) emitters around the world," Howard said.

"If we were to sign in those circumstances it would distinctly disadvantage Australian industry and cost Australian jobs." Howard, who is campaigning ahead of an October 9 general election, said Australia would work to find alternative solutions to Kyoto."

EDIT

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/105086/1/.html

Whatever, John.