UK opposition leader slams PM Blair's failure on green agenda

London (Platts)--13Sep2004

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has failed to deliver on climate change and
energy efficiency, Michael Howard, leader of the opposition Conservative
party, said Monday. His speech to a forum hosted by the Green Alliance comes
the day before Blair is expected to make his own speech on the environment.
Howard said the UK had a privileged relationship with the US, which has failed
to sign up to the Kyoto protocol on global warming. 

The UK will also be heading the G8 and the EU next year. This put it
well-placed to provide leadership on climate change. But Labour was
"squandering this opportunity," he said, and failing "to follow up bold
rhetoric with action that inspires trust." Howard contrasted Blair's failings
to persuade US President George W. Bush to sign up to Kyoto with his own
success as environment secretary in 1992 of persuading George Bush Snr. to
sign the Climate Change Convention, which was the forerunner of the Kyoto
agreement.

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