No climate for change as America snubs talks

MONTREAL - The EU and host Canada piled pressure on the United States to join an international pact to curb greenhouse gas emissions and limit the predicted chaos from global warming.

Ministers from more than 90 nations sought to break a deadlock over how to launch talks that entice the US and big developing nations to join a system that limits emissions.

"We will continue to talk to our US partners and remind them of their commitments," US Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said.

He said George W. Bush agreed at a summit of eight leading industrial nations in July and at a UN summit in September to advance global discussions in Montreal on long-term co-operation to curb climate change.

But Bush's representative, Harlan Watson, has rejected joining any new round of discussions, saying such talks would inevitably lead to new targets for emissions curbs that Bush rejects.

"There is absolutely no excuse for any more delay in action," Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin said.

"To the reluctant countries, including the US, I say this; there is such a thing as a global conscience and this is the time to listen to it. Above all, now is the time for action."

Delegates to the November 28-December 9 talks have made little progress in agreeing on the shape of the next phase of the UN Kyoto Protocol pact, which caps emissions and has been rejected by the US and Australia.

Kyoto's first phase, which runs from 2008 to 2012, only covers about 40 wealthy developed nations. Many countries and green groups say the pact will only be effective if all nations, and the biggest polluters, are on board.

But doing so means a huge economic shift for many countries and particularly for rapidly developing nations, who say cleaning up could limit growth. Rich nations should be taking the lead, they say.

"This is the most significant economic negotiations the world has embarked on, potentially," said one senior Western official, who did not want to be identified.

On Tuesday, host Canada circulated a draft proposal that set out a two-year process for discussing long-term measures to tackle climate change, including promoting greener technology and carbon trading.

Some environmentalists say the plan is a timid step but agreement on it would be positive, given the deadlock.

"I don't think it amounts to very much, but if the United States can sign up to that then it will move the process forward," said Catherine Pearce, of Friends of the Earth.

Most scientists say a build-up of heat-trapping gases from fossil fuels burnt in power plants, factories and cars is warming the Earth and could herald harmful changes, such as melting icecaps and rising in sea levels.

About 160 members have ratified Kyoto which binds signatories to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2 per cent below 1990 levels by 2008-12. But many of these countries are way above their targets at the moment.

Environmentalists are urging rich nations to forget Washington and instead focus on plans for new cuts beyond 2012, saying the time for dithering was over.

- REUTERS