Canada refuses to confirm or deny Kyoto withdrawal

[November 29, 2011]  TORONTO (AP) -- Canada's Conservative environment minister says the country's signing of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change was one of the previous government's biggest "blunders" but he declined to confirm a report that Canada will formally pull out of the treaty.

As U.N. climate negotiations opened in South Africa, CTV News in Canada reported that Ottawa will announce its formal withdrawal from the Kyoto accord next month.

Environment Minister Peter Kent said Monday he would neither confirm or deny the report. Kent says it isn't the day to make an announcement.

Canada, joined by Japan and Russia, said last year it will not accept new commitments, but renouncing the accord would be another setback to the treaty concluded with much fanfare in 1997.

[Associated Press]

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