UK urges Japan: Keep Kyoto going

All smiles now but will the Kyoto protocol end in tears?

Britain's Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has urged Japan to help keep dialogue alive on the Kyoto global warming pact in a bid to shore up support for the ailing project.

His call, on a stop-off in Tokyo as part of a tour of Asia, comes ahead of key United Nations climate talks in Bonn next week.

We will ratify the treaty next year even without US participation

John Prescott

"Even if the talks do not produce results, it is important for world leaders to continue efforts using such opportunities as the Group of Eight (G8) Summit and the Asia-Europe meeting," Mr Prescott was quoted as saying to Japanese Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka by local officials.

"It is vital to keep up the momentum of discussions."

Earlier Mr Prescott told Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi that Britain is ready to ratify the pact without Washington, which has withdrawn support for it.

"While we strongly hope that the United States will take part, as a member of the European Union, we will ratify the treaty next year even without US participation," Mr Prescott was quoted as saying.

US-Japan talks

Mr Koizumi reiterated Tokyo's commitment to seeking US participation.

Environment ministers from the two countries are to hold talks on Friday in a bid to find a way to have Washington return to the pact.

The Kyoto Protocol was drawn up in late 1997, with the aim of curbing global warming by reducing greenhouse gases produced by industrial nations.

It was dealt a severe blow when the US, the world's largest producer of carbon dioxide, described it as "fatally flawed".

Mediation role

Tokyo is trying to mediate between America and Europe - but has not said whether it would sign the pact without Washington.

A forerunner of next Monday's talks in Germany, held in the Hague last November, collapsed after participants failed to agree operational rules of the protocol.

The failed summit hit the headlines after a "gutted" Mr Prescott stormed out and then singled out French environment minister Dominique Voynet for particular criticism.

She hit back by calling him an "inveterate macho".