THE Government is to spend the next few weeks trying to persuade its EU partners to put into practice their pledge to cut dangerous greenhouse gases in order to tackle global warming, writes Rory Watson, European Correspondent.
The lead in ensuring the EU implements the targets made at last December's climate change conference in Kyoto, will be taken by the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and the Environment Minister Michael Meacher.
Speaking during yesterday's meeting of EU Environment Ministers in Brussels, Mr Prescott, who negotiated the Kyoto agreement on behalf of the Government, said: ''I and Mr Meacher will tour member states in the next few weeks. Once we have done that, we will be in a better position to make the necessary decisions.''
At stake is the political commitment to reduce by 2012 at the latest emissions of six greenhouse gases by 8% below 1990 levels.
Meanwhile, the Government claimed wide backing in Europe last night for new legislation to protect animals in zoos.
A majority of member states now agreed that welfare measures to counter cruelty and mistreatment must have the force of law, Junior Environment Minister Angela Eagle said after talks in Brussels.
She urged the rest to back a fresh crackdown after an RSPCA report highlighted ''appalling conditions'' in some of the 1000 zoos in the 15 member states.
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