US forced to join climate talks

The fight against global warming has had a dramatic boost after 180 nations unexpectedly agreed to develop far-reaching measures on climate change.
Delegates to the climate summit in Montreal dealt a humiliating blow to President George W. Bush's five-year attempt to destroy the Kyoto Protocol, the pact designed to cut emissions of gases blamed for global warming.

The United States, which tried to sabotage the meeting at the last minute by walking out of the negotiations, was forced to join the agreement after failing to persuade a single nation to join it.

The result was hailed last night by New Zealand's Minister for Climate Change, David Parker, who said the US, the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, was "effectively back in the tent".

The outcome was a surprise because the US also resisted moves to get non-Kyoto countries to agree to non-binding talks on future measures.

Its delegation walked out of one session because it was against the proposed wording.

But with not one ally in its opposition to future talks, a torrent of domestic and international criticism, pressure from Britain and a speech undermining its position by former President Bill Clinton, the US relented and agreed to take part in discussions about international co-operation on the global warming issue.

Australia, which has also refused to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, had made it clear from the outset it would be a willing participant in future talks.

That meant a "whole-of-world" approach was possible, Mr Parker said last night on his way home from Canada.

"There is an incredible sense of relief that we are moving forward as a world, whereas if we hadn't got to where we did there would be a sense of hopelessness and despair.

"There is a feeling that this has been a successful meeting rather than a failed meeting and that the various leaders have served their people and humanity well."

Canadian Environment Minister and conference chairman Stephane Dion told delegates they had achieved what many had said was unattainable.

"Facing the worst ecological threat to humanity, you have said: the world is united and together, step by step, we will fight this fight."

The Montreal conference also agreed to extend the protocol on reducing greenhouse gas emissions when its first phase ends in 2012 and to decide the terms of the extension by 2008.

At present 39 countries, including New Zealand, are subject to the protocol, which agrees to cut emissions by an average of 5.2 per cent below 1990 levels by 2008 to 2012.

The US helped to negotiate the protocol under the Clinton presidency but Mr Bush has held out, saying it would damage his country's economy.

Mr Clinton said Mr Bush's view was "flat wrong".

He said a future climate change conference could be held on "a raft somewhere" and pointed to increasing action by US states to cut emissions.

Mr Parker said the US had changed its stance not because of pressure but because it realised the seriousness of the issue.

"The Americans understand like everyone else that this is the most important environmental and security issue facing the world."

Kyoto protocol

A pact agreed by Governments in 1997 to reduce greenhouse gases emitted by developed countries by 5.2 per cent of 1990 levels from 2008 to 2012.

* Legal status: Kyoto has legal force. It represents 61.6 per cent of developed nations' total emissions.

* Enforcement: Countries overshooting their targets in 2012 will have to make the promised cuts and 30 per cent more in a second period from 2013.