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CANADA seems set to join the US in reneging on the Kyoto Protocol on climate change unless it gets key concessions, which the European Union adamantly opposes.

Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien told a meeting of EU ministers in Madrid last week that he was “not in a position to ratify until some elements are clarified”. These elements are believed to be Canada’s demand to gain credits under the protocol for exporting hydroelectric power and natural gas to the US.

Canada claims that the gas will replace coal in US power stations. Because burning gas produces less carbon dioxide…

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