WORLD> Asia-Pacific
Australian PM urges more US climate change action
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-08-19 14:19

WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd urged the United States on Tuesday to take more action on climate change and become more involved in the global debate on the issue.

As the only developed nation not to sign the greenhouse gas-controlling Kyoto Protocol, America's stance on climate change has made it easier for major developing countries to avoid acting, Rudd told the Australia-New Zealand Climate Change and Business Conference in the northern city of Auckland.

"I think our first step should be to get the United States of America fully engaged," Rudd said.

He said he has spoken about climate change policy with the US presidential candidates, Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama.

"What is heartening on that question is that both candidates ... have indicated that they will be moving on this, and with an ambitious set of targets," he said.

A Nobel prize-winning panel of UN scientists has said greenhouse gas emissions must level off within the next 10-15 years and then start to dramatically decline to avoid a rise in average temperatures that could have catastrophic consequences.

They warn that an increase of more than 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) could lead to a rise in sea levels threatening coastal areas, and the extinction of up to 30 percent of the planet's species.

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, who joined Clark said Australia was about 20 months behind New Zealand in formulating an emissions trading scheme, but that there was no barrier to linking them.