Coal wins in Asia-Pacific climate pact.

The article presents information about a new international climate agreement. The agreement, widely condemned as an attempt to undermine the Kyoto Protocol, has been signed by six major nations including the U.S. and China. The major objective of the pact is to limit greenhouse emissions using mandatory targets and market mechanisms such as carbon taxes and trading. In addition to the U.S. and China, the climate pact has been signed by Japan, India, Korea, and Australia. Together, the six nations account for 40% of global emissions. Although Australia is responsible for emitting only 1.4%, it was included since it is a staunch U.S. ally in Iraq and against the Kyoto Protocol. Australia's Environment minister, Ian Campbell, said that global emission must be cut by at least 50% over the next century. He also said that the climate pact reflects the reality that coal will remain the world's main energy source. The new pact is being promoted as an alternative to Kyoto Protocol, but Greenpeace energy campaigner Catherine Fitzpatrick believes Australia is trying to cover its failure to rein in emissions, which have soared by 20% since 1990.