Fed: Brown warns Kyoto as big as GST with voters

AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-2001
Fed: Brown warns Kyoto as big as GST with voters

Australian Greens Senator BOB BROWN has warned of an electoral backlash for the federal
government if the Kyoto Protocol is abandoned.

Senator BROWN says the protocol, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in industrialised
countries, will rival the GST as an election issue.

The senator will today move a motion in the Senate condemning the administration of
US President GEORGE W BUSH for withdrawing from the 1997 international convention on climate
change.

He says Australians are worried about reports from scientists around the world that
global warming is occurring faster than earlier predicted.

He has called on the federal government to ratify the protocol.

A diplomatic offensive has been launched against the US in the wake of President BUSH's
announcement that the US will reject the protocol which imposes a 5.2 per cent reduction
in carbon-based emissions in industrialised nations by 2010.

Australian Environment Minister ROBERT HILL is to travel to the US this month to urge
the administration to rethink its position on the protocol.

AAP RTV kjp/daw/rsm/jnd

KEYWORD: US KYOTO GREENS (CANBERRA)

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