Dubya loses more allies on global warning

The Australian government “has distanced itself for the first time from the United States’ hardline attempts to stall international action on global warming.”

The Environment Minister, Ian Campbell, has made a point of spelling out key differences with the US after years of standing together – as the only two developed nations that have not signed the Kyoto protocol.

American lobbying at a United Nations climate change conference, described as “atrocious” by Australian environment groups at the meeting, prompted the Government to clarify its policy.