New climate change agreement must build on Kyoto not destroy it - Baker

7.17.38pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 28th Jul 2005

Commenting on the news that the United States and five Asian-Pacific States have agreed an alternative to the Kyoto protocol, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, Norman Baker MP said:

"Any new agreement must build on the Kyoto process, not destroy it.

"Technology fixes are part of the solution, but are not the answer alone. Japan has managed to use new technology as well as committing to mandatory targets. Future agreements can only work if they are based on definite targets and clear timetables. We should be working towards a solution based on 'contraction and convergence'.

"Whilst this agreement may well be seen as helpful, there is still a suspicion that the US are trying to undermine Kyoto and replace it with a weaker alternative."