KYOTO KILLER

The US, Australia, South Korea, India, China and Japan have agreed on an emissions reduction strategy:

The new initiative is known as the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate.

A statement released by the participating nations says areas of cooperation envisioned in the new pact range from the use of clean coal and nuclear power to that of wind and solar energy.

The six nations will also jointly develop technologies that "promote economic growth while enabling significant reductions in greenhouse gas intensities."

Sounds sensible. Naturally, since the agreement is outside the Kyoto Protocol, environmentalists are sceptical even though the details are not known:

Details of the agreement are not yet public but it is clear it is designed to give US and Australian companies selling renewable energy and carbon dioxide-cutting technologies access to markets in Asia.

It is thought the pact does not include any targets and timetables for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which the rest of the developed world has signed up to under Kyoto.

The US, Australia and China are big coal exporters and are anxious to develop and export clean coal technologies.

Australian Senator Bob Brown is also unimpressed:

The immense power of the US and Australian coal lobbies is the key to the secret Asia-Pacific pact revealed in today's Australian newspaper, Greens Senator Bob Brown said today.

"This is all about taxpayers money being diverted from developing clean renewable technologies to try to make burning coal less dirty. It's putting geo-sequestration before solar power," Senator Brown said.

"And it will continue to hold back the introduction of planet-saving energy alternatives which do not produce greenhouse gases.

"Geo-sequestration - attempting to pipe carbon dioxide from thermal power stations underground - can not be applied to existing stations even if it does become a useable technology," Senator Brown said.

Senator Brown praised today's action by Greenpeace in Newcastle.

Well, it appears China, not being bound by Kyoto, had already opted for coal powered plants, not solar:

The country is on track to add 562 coal-fired plants - nearly half the world total of plants expected to come online in the next eight years.

Environmentalists should be happy China has at least made a gesture to address its emissions. Rather than applaud China they fret that Kyoto is under attack:

The UN wants to bring developing countries into the Kyoto fold after 2012, but the Times says that the APPD arrangement might mean China and India will opt to stay out.

India and China should, of course, act in their best national interests.

Meanwhile, Greenpeace has attempted to disrupt Australia's coal exports:

This morning, Greenpeace flagship, the Rainbow Warrior, slipped through Newcastle harbour and dropped anchor to block the channel and close down the world's biggest coal port.

At least 25 local people took to boats to support the Greenpeace action. Many more stood on shore in a show of support.

Meanwhile, Greenpeace activists occupied a huge coal loader and unfurled a banner "coal fuels climate change" on a 2.5 million tonne coal stockpile. Those activists were later arrested, along with the Rainbow Warrior's captain.

Ah yes, the always impressive Greenpeace banner unfurling.

Paul Bickford points out the blockade had zero effect on the movement of coal:

K Line’s 149,000 dwt Cape Lila was able to sail from Kooragang Island without delay. Two other scheduled departures, Keoyang Shipping’s 149,000 dwt Keoyang Orient , and the Japanese handymax Ace Eagle , were able to sail without problems. Four ships will also enter port today without delay.

Eileen Doyle, chair of Port Waratah Coal Services, which operates coal stevedoring services at Newcastle, said the protest action had not disrupted ship loading.

Keep up the good work enviroloonies.