Kyoto tops Rudd's agenda

2007-11-27 07:40

Sydney - Australian prime minister-elect Kevin Rudd said on Tuesday he was working on fulfilling his campaign pledge to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, but a law expert said he could face problems.

"There are a range of ways in which the ratification process can be transacted and I'm seeking further advice on that now," Rudd told a news conference.

"I'm hoping to have a complete statement on that by the time cabinet is sworn in."

Australia's ratification of Kyoto will leave the United States isolated as the only major country to have refused to sign up to the treaty, which is aimed at curbing the emission of greenhouse gases blamed for global warming.

Rudd's predecessor John Howard, ousted in weekend elections, was a staunch ally of US President George W Bush and made Australia a pariah state in the global climate change debate by also refusing to ratify Kyoto.

Former US vice president Al Gore, who became an environmental campaigner and went on to win the Nobel peace prize, branded Howard and Bush the "Bonnie and Clyde" of climate change - a reference to the notorious US bank robbers.

Rudd told the news conference that Gore had telephoned to congratulate him on his victory and the two would meet at the Bali conference on climate change next month.

"We talked a lot about climate change and some of the important things that need to be done globally," he said. "We'll resume that conversation in Bali over a strong cup of tea or something stronger."

But an international law expert warned that ratifying the treaty could take some time, with normal processes requiring an impact analysis, a parliamentary inquiry and the passing of a new law giving effect to the protocol.

"The simple act of ratifying Kyoto may create the first set of headaches for the new government," said Australia National University's Donald Rothwell, adding it was unlikely the process could be completed by the end of the year.

"However, given the urgency of Kyoto ratification it seems highly unlikely these impediments will be allowed to stand in the way of a highly symbolic first act of the new government," he said.

- AFP