Although implementation of the Kyoto Protocol has moved closer with all 15 EU nations and Japan's (full story, page 9) ratifying the pact, it is now in danger of losing powerful signatories as Canada looks for alternatives and Australia joins the US in rejecting the agreement outright. The latest round brings the total of signatories to 70. For the Protocol to become binding, 55 signatories are needed representing 55 per cent of developed nations' CO2 emissions.
Canada has again found itself locked in fierce debate over whether to sign, and is threatening to follow its neighbour's lead and withdraw. Industry lobby groups are calling on the government to ditch Kyoto, after the US, with which Canada has strong trading and economic links, backed out last year. Domestic producers and some provinces, including Alberta, which supplies significant volumes of energy and oil to the US, believe Kyoto will cost the country tens of billions of dollars and countless jobs. It is also reluctant to strain its relationship with the US. However, the Ottawa government is pressing to be given credits under the scheme for clean energy it exports to the US, a move the EU opposes. It has also suggested mandatory emissions caps on the biggest greenhouse gas producers.
This is not the first time that Canada has hesitated over Kyoto. It has already stated that it will not ratify this year. Last year, Ottawa persuaded its international partners to change the agreement to give Canada credits for carbon dioxide absorbed by forests.
Meanwhile, Australia has joined the ranks of those opting not to sign, with prime minister John Howard defending the decision on the grounds that to join would cost jobs and damage the economy. Nonetheless, with the EU ratification the European economic bloc flung down the gauntlet to the US to take the lead in addressing climate change instead of pursuing its current policy which is likely to raise greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent.
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