China slams Canada's withdrawal from Kyoto

Canada on Monday became the first country to declare it was formally pulling out of the pact.

The Kyoto protocol, adopted in 1997, is the only global treaty which sets down targeted curbs in global emissions, but those curbs apply only to rich countries, and the United States refused to ratify the accord.

"Kyoto is not the path forward for a global solution to climate change. If anything, it's an impediment”, said Canada’s Environment Minister Peter Kent after returning home from the marathon UN climate conference in South Africa, where countries agreed to a new roadmap for worldwide action.

"We believe that a new agreement with legally binding commitments for all major emitters that allows us as a country to continue to generate jobs and economic growth represents the path forward."

China, the world's largest carbon emitter, hit out at Canada, with foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin describing Ottawa's decision as being "against the efforts of the international community," and "regrettable."
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China has always insisted that as a developing country it should be exempt from binding obligations on emissions.

Canada agreed under the Kyoto Protocol to reduce CO2 emissions to 6.0 percent below 1990 levels by 2012, but its emissions of the gases blamed for damaging Earth's fragile climate system have instead increased sharply.

Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper says the the targets agreed to by a previous Liberal administration are unattainable.

His government last year unveiled its own measures aimed at curbing emissions, which are more in line with US efforts.

Pulling out of Kyoto now also allows Canada to avoid paying penalties of up to CAN $14 billion for missing its targets.