01mar02

THE Australian Greens have accused the government of a sell-out after it teamed up with the US to tackle global warming outside the framework of the UN's Kyoto agreement on climate change.

The government signed a climate action partnership with the US after Environment Minister David Kemp held high-level talks in Washington.

Under the agreement businesses, scientists and governments in both countries will work together to battle greenhouse gas emissions.

US President George W. Bush has rejected the UN-sponsored Kyoto protocol designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions on the grounds it could harm the US economy, which is responsible for one quarter of global man-made greenhouse gas emissions.

Greens Senator Bob Brown said Dr Kemp had sold out to Washington.

"The climate change partnership program signed between the US and Australia today amounts to a complete abandonment of any real action to address greenhouse gas emissions," he said.

"Last year I said that on climate change we have a choice between present President Bush and our grandchildren.

"Clearly the Howard government has chosen Bush."

Green groups also slammed the deal as a rejection of the Kyoto agreement.

Greenpeace campaigner Frances MacGuire said Australia's greenhouse emissions were rising and the government was trying to hide its inaction behind the US president's coat-tails.

Climate Action Network Australia spokeswoman Anna Reynolds said the move was against public opinion and was no substitute for signing the Kyoto Protocol.

Dr Kemp said the partnership would allow discussion on climate science, the energy industry and collaboration with developing countries to deal with the problem.

He said Australia had committed itself to achieving its Kyoto target, but recognised if there was to be any global action on climate change, it had to involve the US.

Labor's environment spokesman Kelvin Thomson said the American approach was inadequate, with climate change requiring a globally-coordinated solution similar to the one agreed at Kyoto.