Australia Signals It Will Take on New Kyoto Protocol Commitment on Five Conditions

MELBOURNE, Australia—The Australian government Nov. 9 said it is ready to accept a new, binding greenhouse gas emission reduction target under the Kyoto Protocol at upcoming U.N. climate talks in Qatar—if five conditions are met.

The government is willing to accept a new Kyoto target that matches its domestic commitment to cut emissions 5 percent below 2000 levels by 2020, Climate Change Minister Greg Combet told a carbon conference in Melbourne, Australia.

However, the government also stands by its 2009 Copenhagen climate conference pledge to increase its level of ambition and reduce emissions to as much as 25 percent below ...