US has no intention of signing Kyoto climate accord

WASHINGTON, Oct 22 (AFP) - The United States said Friday it had no intention of following Russia's lead and signing the protocol to the Kyoto climate accord.
"We have no intention of signing or ratifying it. We have not changed our views," said deputy State Department spokesman Adam Ereli.
The European Union had earlier called on the United States to follow Russia's ratification of the accord aimed at lessening the impact of climate change.
The United States helped negotiate the protocol under former president Bill Clinton's administration. But President George W. Bush refused to join the accord when he took office in 2001 because of the cost to US industry.

10/22/2004 17:28 GMT - AFP