[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book I)]
[June 27, 1997]
[Pages 840-841]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With Prime Minister 
John Howard of Australia
June 27, 1997

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

    Q. Sir, do you have any sympathy for Australia's position on 
greenhouse gas emissions?
    President Clinton. The Prime Minister was just expressing sympathy 
with ours. [Laughter] We're going to talk about it today. I think we 
have to do something. I think it's a serious problem. But we've all got 
to--you know, what you want is everybody making a good effort. We don't 
want to falsely compare one person's circumstance to another. We've got 
from now to Kyoto to find a solution; I think we will.
    Q. Sir, is differentiation the answer?
    President Clinton. I want to make sure I know what I am answering 
when I give an answer.
    Q. Different targets for different countries, sir, is that the 
answer?
    President Clinton. I don't want to say yet; I want to have time to 
look through this and make a judgment.
    Q. Do you think Australia and the U.S. can meet on this, then?
    President Clinton. I certainly hope so. I hope we can all meet in 
Kyoto on it. It's what I'm working for.
    Q. [Inaudible]--on the developing nations?
    Q. Will you be discussing China today and U.S. engagement in the 
region?
    President Clinton. Just a minute. I think the developing nations 
should be part of it. And I think that--we believe we can demonstrate 
that the developing nations can continue to grow their economies rapidly 
and still adopt responsible, sustainable development policies. That's 
what's behind our Export-Import Bank loan policy. It's what's behind 
what Mr. Wolfensohn is doing at the World Bank. We can get there.
    What did you say about Asia?

U.S. Engagement in Asia

    Q. Will you be discussing the U.S. engagement in Asia?
    President Clinton. Absolutely, a lot.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

    Q. Mr. Howard, do you think you can talk the President around?
    Prime Minister Howard. Well, I don't think it's a question of 
talking around. I think the Australian position is quite well known. We 
want to play a part; we don't expect a free ride. But we've argued for 
some kind of differentiation, because different countries are in 
different situations. And the concern Australia had was that the Group 
of Eight meeting in Denver might have preempted the outcome of the Kyoto 
Summit. And that clearly is not happening. And I get a lot of 
encouragement from the remarks that were made by the President yesterday 
in New York. And I think that is the basis of an understanding. I'd like 
to see Australia and the United States work together on it. We have a 
concern about domestic jobs, and I'm sure the United States does, too.

Note: The exchange began at approximately 1:20 p.m. in the Rose Garden 
at the White House. A tape was not available for verification of the 
content of this exchange.

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