Blair's About Face on Kyoto...

[JayB]

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/green/story/0,9061,1578037,00.html

 

"n a debate, hosted by former US President Bill Clinton in New York, Blair said he was not hopeful of another major agreement on targets to reduce emissions of the greenhouse gases blamed for climate change.

 

Instead, he talked enthusiastically about focusing on technology-led solutions, the process favoured by America, Japan, China and India, but rejected by environmental campaigners and other leaders, including Britain's own minister responsible for climate change minister.

 

He also back-tracked on his previous insistence that tackling climate change would not damage economic growth, warning 'no country is going to cut its growth or consumption substantially' - a phrase that echoes anti-Kyoto arguments of President George Bush.

 

'Some people have signed Kyoto, some people haven't,' the Prime Minister said, adding: 'How do we move forward and ensure that post-Kyoto, we do try and get agreement?'

 

The apparent change in tone by Blair is surprising because he made climate change one of the major themes of his chairmanship of the G8 group of the world's richest nations.

 

It comes as Labour faces the embarrassing prospect of failing to meet Britain's own Kyoto targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions because of rises in pollution since Labour came to power in 1997."

[wayne]

Looking at my stop watch ,gee, its 40 years too late...