SIx nations to develop clean energy

SYDNEY, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- Australia and the United States Thursday in Sydney pledged $128 million to develop clean energy projects and help slash greenhouse gas emissions.

Plans for the energy technology fund were announced at the inaugural meeting of the Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate concluded in Sydney, The Australian reported.

Government and business leaders from Australia, the United States, China, Japan, South Korea and India attended the two-day talks.

The six nations, which produce half of the world's greenhouse gases, agreed to set up eight task forces on issues including renewable energy, power generation, cleaner fossil fuels and coal mining.

Conservationists criticized the countries for failing to follow the Kyoto Protocol, which requires countries to adopt mandatory targets to reduce greenhouse emissions by 5.2 percent by 2012.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard said the six nations could do better, and U.S. Energy Secretary Sam Bodman said harnessing the private sector to reduce pollution was an effective strategy.

The environmental group Greenpeace said the group's plans and funding were inadequate to really tackle climate change.