Canada does not rule out achieving Kyoto goals

NAIROBI, Nov 15 (Reuters) Canadian environment minister Rona Ambrose would not rule out the possibility Canada might meet its emissions reduction goals under the Kyoto Protocol when she spoke at a climate change conference in Kenya today.

Ambrose had said in May that the targets were unachievable, but now said Canada was pushing to make progress.

''(Experts) tell me that it will be very, very difficult for Canada to reach the Kyoto target,'' she said.

''We're moving forward very aggressively to put a plan in place to make progress on our Kyoto targets. Canada remains strongly committed to Kyoto.'' As a first step towards meeting its goals Canada would give its industry short-term emissions targets by early next year, Ambrose said at the conference in Nairobi.

She did not rule out Canada buying carbon credits to help it meet the Kyoto target, but estimated that this would cost billions of dollars.

The Kyoto Protocol sets some 35 rich countries including Canada emissions reductions goals to 2012, but allows them to meet these by funding cuts elsewhere, getting carbon credits in exchange.

''Potentially we can use Kyoto mechanisms, but for us the priority is to put in place immediately targets for industry,'' she told reporters.

To investigate the options for buying carbon credits, Canada would host an emissions trading forum in December taking advice from the European Union, which already has a carbon market.

''We can't engage in some of the Kyoto mechanisms without having regulations in place, in particular a trading mechanism.'' ''Right now we do not have a clear understanding of what it would cost Canada because we do not have the domestic measures in place.'' Reuers SY VV2151