CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Prime Minister John Howard on Wednesday used World Environment Day to reject calls for his government to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on global warming.
Howard has repeatedly said he will not endorse the treaty unless the United States does, arguing it would be bad for Australia, which is the world’s leading coal exporter.
“For us to ratify the protocol would cost us jobs and damage our industry,” Howard told Parliament. “That is why the Australian government will continue to oppose ratification.”
Howard’s government has long argued the protocol is flawed because it fails to order developing countries to contribute to a cut in the emissions of greenhouse gases blamed for global warming.
Howard’s comments came the day after Japan—one of Australia’s major trading partners—ratified the protocol.
Australian Conservation Foundation chief Don Henry said the government should ratify in line with its trading partners.
“The biggest present Prime Minister John Howard could give to Australians, particularly our kids, is a change in his position,” Henry said.
Opposition environment spokesman Kelvin Thomson also pressed the government.
“Japan agreed to ratify Kyoto yesterday, the European Union signed on May 31; 71 countries have now ratified the Kyoto Protocol,” Thomson said. “This is a clear signal that the Kyoto Protocol, with its legally binding targets and timetables, is the only effective international framework for combating global warming.”
The 1997 protocol commits industrialized nations to rolling back emissions of heat-trapping gases to 1990 levels.
Howard argues that if Australia signs on, industries that are large emitters of the gases will be forced out of business here but will continue in developing nations.
