Ireland: The Government will try to exert "peer pressure" on the US to persuade it to withdraw its opposition to the Kyoto protocol on climate change, the Minister for the Environment said yesterday.
Mr Cullen said he would concentrate during Ireland's EU presidency on efforts to prevent waste and promote recycling through wider use of initiatives such as as the Government levy on plastic bags.
On Kyoto, he said there was a strong possibility Russia would sign up to the protocol, which requires states to reduce harmful industrial emissions.
Pointing out that 120 states were parties to the agreement, he rejected suggestions that the US withdrawal from the protocol in 2001 meant it would prove difficult to persuade Russia to endorse it.
"This is an issue that is very firmly on the international agenda. It's an issue for the EU and we would always continue to seek every opportunity with the Americans to forge this agenda forward to persuade them to our point of view.
"We have got to create peer pressure throughout the world so that everybody understands that we all at the most individual level, right up to the great economic power level, have to take care of the environment."
Mr Cullen said he was likely to raise Kyoto at a proposed EU-US summit which is likely to take place here in June. "We've got to continue to persuade and work with the Americans, and whoever else, to work with this agenda."
At a briefing to outline his priorities for Ireland's presidency, the Minister said he wanted to ensure the EU pursued its employment objectives "in conjunction with, and not at the expense of our environment".
Identifying "clean economics" as a central goal of the environmental programme, Mr Cullen said he was seeking agreement on new EU legislation to allow European industrial groups to gain credit for technological assistance to developing states.
He said he wanted to persuade people that the environment agenda did not constitute an economic threat, and that high environmental standards created economic opportunities.
He had secured agreement for an "environmental input" to the annual review during the spring of the Lisbon Agenda growth initiative.
"Clean technologies have tremendous potential to boost competitiveness, increase employment, and strengthen environmental protection. Pursuing such an approach will succeed in cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions."
Mr Cullen said he would seek the agreement of the EU council of environment ministers for better controls and "greater legal clarity" on cross-border shipping of waste.
The Minister is also seeking agreement on a new EU directive on air pollution caused by heavy metals.