Hillary Clinton: not to follow U.S. on climate change
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U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is visiting Australia, Sunday urged countries to find ways to tackle climate change, despite the U.S. government's decision to drop plans for an emissions trading scheme.
Last week, U.S. President Barack Obama confirmed the cap-and- trade bill for carbon was dead, after a crushing result in the U.S. mid-term elections.
Soon after the announcement, Australian federal opposition and business subsequently called for the Australian government to withdraw from a carbon tax.
However, Clinton said the U.S. move to abandon an emissions trading scheme was a symptom of its political climate, and should not be a signal to other countries to follow suit.
"I don't think that President Obama's statement is meant to describe anything other than what is happening inside the United States," she told reporters in Melbourne of Australia on Sunday.
"Obviously decisions in Australia are up to the government of Australia and the people of Australia, but what we are absolutely clear eyed about is our commitment to addressing climate change and its effects."
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard earlier said Australia would persist with plans to put a price on carbon even if the U.S., the world's biggest economy, decided not to introduce a emission trading scheme.
Clinton touched down in Melbourne of Australia on Saturday for the three-day visit as part of the annual AUSMIN (Australia-United States Ministerial) meetings.
Australia is the last foreign stop of Clinton's seven-nation Asia-Pacific tour.
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