Environmental guru Emil Salim said Monday that the world could expect to see a new attitude toward global warming with the political changes in Australia and the United States, both major emitters of carbon dioxide.

“I am convinced that we are going to have a new regime to address the global warming issue on the back of Australia’s election results and the anticipated changes on the U.S. political stage,” said Emil, speaking at a training session by held by Leadership for Environment and Development (LEAD).

The organization is running the week-long training session prior to the UN climate change conference in Bali from Dec. 3-14.

World representatives will convene at the conference to negotiate a new global treaty after the Kyoto Protocol, the main UN plan to fight global warming, expires in 2012.

Australia’s newly elected prime minister, Kevin Rudd, has promised to immediately sign the Kyoto Protocol, which will oblige the country to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 5 percent from the 1990 level.

Former PM John Howard had previously refused to sign the protocol, citing fears that it would be economically harmful to the country, whose industries survive on oil, coal and gas.

The U.S. signed the convention when the Democratic Party’s Bill Clinton assumed the presidential office, but the Republican George W. Bush administration has refused to ratify it and persistently denies the impact of global warming and renounces any immediate need to act.

Emil said it might be possible that the U.S. would join “the club” if the Democratic Party restored its presidential power in the 2008 election.

The Democratic Party is currently dominating attention with its two possible presidential candidates, former first lady Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

“The most important thing right now is to ensure the United States ratifies the Kyoto Protocol. We cannot bring them to further commitment if it is not ratified,” he said.

Some 137 countries have ratified the protocol, but have no obligation beyond monitoring and reporting emissions. Signing countries, such as China, India and Canada have yet to face serious responsibilities under the Kyoto Protocol.

Speaking at the same forum, State Minister of the Environment Rachmat Witoelar called on all countries to shoulder the responsibility of reducing the impact of global warming in an equal way.

“Indonesia can curb its deforestation rate, while developed countries, such as the U.S., should bear the task of reducing industrial carbon emissions,” he said.

“Somehow, I think that it is the developed countries who should take the lead considering the technologies and funds they have.

“Developing countries like Indonesia can use reforestation to reduce carbon emissions while the developed ones have economic sources to develop alternative energy to replace the current ones.”

Experts have urged industrial countries to shift to alternative energy sources and reduce the use of fossil-based fuels like petroleum, coal and gas. (lln)

Source: The Jakarta Post