Carbon Credits Government Watch

Mikhail Gorbachev, the Soviet president who dismantled the USSR and put an end to the Cold War with the USA, has urged Australia to sign the Kyoto Protocol on climate change and set targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions. He also called on Canberra to influence the United States to do more. Mr Gorbachev said the close relationship between Prime Minister John Howard and US President George W Bush gave Australia influence. He was in Australia in July 2006 to co-chair the global forum Earth Dialogues, where delegates from 11 nations discussed solutions to sustainable development, resource management, climate change, energy security and peace.
Mr Gorbachev is chairman of environmental lobby group Green Cross International. Under Kyoto 40 countries agreed to cut their emissions by 5.2% before 2012. Prime Minister John Howard turned down invitations to attend the forum, as did four other ministers.