From NEWS.com.au: US defiant on Kyoto

October 23, 2004

THE United States said today it had no intention of following Russia's lead and signing the protocol to the Kyoto climate accord.

"We have no intention of signing or ratifying it. We have not changed our views," said deputy State Department spokesman Adam Ereli.

The European Union had earlier called on the United States to follow Russia's ratification of the accord, aimed at lessening the impact of climate change.

The United States helped negotiate the protocol under former president Bill Clinton's administration. But President George W. Bush refused to join the accord when he took office in 2001 because of the cost to US industry.

From Russian OK clears way for Kyoto Protocol
01 October 2004

The Russian government has approved the Kyoto Protocol, giving decisive support to the long-delayed climate change treaty that should allow it to come into force worldwide.

The pact, so far ratified by 122 nations
But they account for only 44 per cent of emissions.

From Asian glaciers shrinking at alarming rate

Glaciers around the Qinghai-Tibet plateau are shrinking at an alarming rate.

Chinese and American scientists announced this on the basis of long term studies in the region, China Radio International reported Monday.

They point out that the glaciers have shrunk by an average of seven percent a year over the past 40 years.

Scientists warn that ever smaller glaciers will mean less and less water in the rivers they feed, seriously threatening the hundreds of millions of people who depend on them and accelerating the already very serious problem of desertification.

Glaciers all around the world, as well as the polar ice sheets, are shrinking faster and faster. The reason is generally agreed to be global warming.

From Greenpeace slams PM on Kyoto

GREENPEACE has labelled Australian Prime Minister John Howard's refusal to sign the Kyoto Protocol as embarrassing following the Russian Government's move to join the global climate protection agreement last night.

Mr Howard has said Australia will achieve its Kyoto benchmarks without signing the treaty.

Greenpeace campaign manager Danny Kennedy said Australia's rejection of the protocol will hurt the nation in the eyes of the global community and economically.

"It's shameful the prime minister refuses to ratify this while the world is proceeding with this important step," he said.

"Kyoto is just a small step in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
As an Australian citizen I'm embarrassed."

Australia and the US are now the only developed Western nations who have not ratified Kyoto.

"We are flying in the face of the warning signs and we are doing it at our own peril"

From Queen urges US global warming rethink

QUEEN Elizabeth has made a rare tiptoe into the world of politics by warning Prime Minister Tony Blair of her grave concerns over the policy of the US towards global warming, a British newspaper said yesterday.

The Observer reported that the Queen was understood to have asked Mr Blair's office to lobby the US after observing the alarming impact of Britain's changing weather on her estates at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, and Sandringham House in east England.

"There has been dialogue between Downing Street and Buckingham Palace on all issues relating to climate change including the US position and the latest science," said one of Britain's leading expert's on climate change.

The US, flying in the face of snowballing world opinion, said earlier this month it would not follow Russia's lead and ratify the Kyoto protocol on global warming.