Uh-oh. Jean "Dubya's Sockpuppet" Chretien is set to reject the Kyoto protocol. Canadian — smugness — evaporating — must — elect — new — PM.
Canada claims that the gas will replace coal in US power stations. Because burning gas produces less carbon dioxide than burning coal, that would reduce the US's contribution to global warming, it argues.
Only six months ago, the Canadian government joined with every industrialised nation except the US in signing up to the protocol, including detailed provisions covering carbon credits. But it has since come under heavy pressure from its energy industry not to ratify the deal in parliament.
