APEC soft on emissions (to back "aspirational" targets) - SMH

[Eugene]

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

APEC soft on emissions

Marian Wilkinson, Environment Editor
August 18, 2007

A SECRET document prepared for the world leaders attending John
Howard's climate summit reveals they are being asked to back a
weakened plan to set an "aspirational" goal to cut greenhouse
gases, rather than firm targets.

The secret full draft of the declaration for the Asia-Pacific
Economic Co-operation forum, obtained by the Herald, is supposed
to be announced by the 21 leaders at the close of next month's
summit in Sydney.

The document reveals Mr Howard, the US President, George Bush,
and the other APEC leaders will call for the aspirational global
goal to be included in the next round of UN climate negotiations.
The APEC leaders will also back agreements to promote energy
efficiency and new technology, including nuclear power, to combat
global warming.

"This is a 'Made in the USA' declaration, covered in Australian coal
dust," Ben Pearson, of Greenpeace, told the Herald. "It's Bush
and Howard trying to look good for elections but actually doing
nothing."

-snip-

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/apec-soft-on-emissions/2007/08/17/1186857771538.html

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Related: Draft outline: APEC Declaration on Climate Change - SMH (pdf)