§ Norman BakerTo ask the Prime Minister what recent steps he has taken to persuade(a) the US and (b) the Australian governments to sign and ratify the Kyoto Agreement. [80858]
§ The Prime MinisterThe Government believe that the Kyoto Protocol, with its binding targets and timetables, is the only existing international framework for tackling climate change and takes every opportunity to urge all countries that have not yet ratified it to do so as soon as possible.
The Government are encouraged that although Australia will not be ratifying the Kyoto Protocol, it intends to meet its Kyoto Protocol target.
We welcome the US's recognition that climate change is a serious problem andthe fact that they are taking domestic action, although this will not result in the absolute reductions in greenhouse gas emissions that the US would have been committed to make under the Kyoto Protocol.