Fed: Hill to discuss alternative to Kyoto with US administration

AAP General News (Australia)
04-18-2001
Fed: Hill to discuss alternative to Kyoto with US administration

Environment Minister ROBERT HILL will discuss alternatives to the Kyoto greenhouse
gas emissions protocol with the US administration ahead of international talks about greenhouse
gases later this week.

Senator HILL has told reporters in Washington, while the Kyoto protocol remains Australia's
preferred option, it will not work without the support of the US.

He says it's premature to say whether the US can be brought back to the negotiating
table until he had talked to the White House, the state department and the US environmental
watchdog.

The European Union and 40 other countries, including Australia, are due to hold wider
environmental talks in New York later this week.





New Zealand, Japan and the EU are working on diplomatic solutions to the Kyoto impasse
after the US pulled out of the process last month.

To come into force the protocol needs to be signed by 55 countries producing 55 per
cent of greenhouse gas emissions. The US accounts for 25 per cent of emissions.

AAP RTV kmh/pc/jtb

KEYWORD: KYOTO HILL (CANBERRA)

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