[NYTr] Polluters Vow "No Sacrifice of Growth" in Climate Fight

[nytr at olm.blythe-systems.com]

sent by MichaelP (activ-l)

[There will be no reduction in use of fossil fuels even tho Mr Greed looks 
to make money from renewable energy supply.]

AFP via Yahoo - Jan 12, 2006
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/060112/1/3xtsv.html

POLLUTERS VOW NO SACRIFICE OF GROWTH IN CLIMATE FIGHT

Some of the world's worst polluting nations pledged new tactics to fight 
global warming, but said they would not sacrifice economic growth or stop 
using fossil fuels.

The strategy was outlined at the end of a two-day conference here bringing 
ministers from the United States, Australia, Japan, China, India and South 
Korea together with more than 100 top executives from big business.

The six nations of the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and 
Climate (AP-6) said at the end of their inaugural meeting that "at the 
core of (our) vision is our conviction of the urgent need to pursue 
development and poverty eradication.

"By working together we will be better able to meet our increased energy 
needs and associated challenges, including those related to air pollution, 
energy security and greenhouse gas intensity."

The six countries account for almost half of the world's gross domestic 
product, population, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Scientists blame greenhouse gases, produced mainly by the burning of 
fossil fuels such as coal and oil, for causing rising temperatures 
worldwide.

The group said while it recognised renewable energy and nuclear power 
would represent an increasing share of global energy supply, there would 
be no reduction in the use of fossil fuels.

"We recognised that fossil fuels underpin our economies, and will be an 
enduring reality for our lifetimes and beyond," the six nations said in a 
statement.

"It is therefore critical that we work together to develop, demonstrate 
and implement cleaner and lower emissions technologies that allow for the 
continued economic use of fossil fuels while addressing air pollution and 
greenhouse gas emissions."

Australian Prime Minister John Howard told the conference "the idea that 
we can address climate-change matters successfully at the expense of 
economic growth is not only unrealistic but also unacceptable".

Howard pledged an additional 100 million dollars (75 million US) for green 
projects over the next five years, with five million going to the 
partnership.

US Energy Secretary Sam Bodman said President George W. Bush had agreed to 
contribute 52 million to the partnership in the US budget for 2007.

Critics have charged that the conference was a smokescreen designed to 
divert attention from the US and Australian refusal to ratify the Kyoto 
Protocol, which commits developed countries to reducing greenhouse gas 
pollution.

The US accounts for 25 percent of carbon emissions while Australia 
produces more carbon dioxide per person than any other country, but they 
say the Kyoto pact is unfair as it does not commit developing nations to 
reducing emissions.

Greenpeace energy campaigner Catherine Fitzpatrick said the new agreement 
was more of a trade pact than an environmental solution.

"The short-term interests of the fossil fuel sector have been put ahead of 
the long-term health and welfare of ordinary people," she told AFP.

The World Wildlife Fund said the AP-6 strategy would result in the global 
temperature rising by four degrees Celsius by 2050.

The ministers said private industry had a critical role to play in the 
strategy by developing and commercialising hi-tech innovations for 
reducing emissions.

Ministers from the two developing nations in the partnership, China and 
India, said technology transfer would be the most important element of the 
agreement.

Vice-Minister for China's National Development and Reform Commission Jiang 
Weixin said while Beijing attached a great deal of importance to climate 
change, one of the most pressing problems for the country was reducing 
poverty.

India's Environment and Forests Minister A. Raja agreed, saying 
alleviating poverty was a priority for developing nations.

The group announced the formation of eight public-private sector task 
forces covering cleaner fossil energy, renewable energy, power generation, 
steel, aluminium, cement, coal mining and buildings and appliances.

They will study anti-pollution technologies and develop action plans "for 
cooperation, and wherever possibile, ambitious and realistic goals".