EU Criticizes U.S. At Climate Change Conference

Stavros Dimas, speaking today at the start of a UN conference in Brussels on global warming, said Washington must end its "negative attitude" toward international negotiations on a new climate change pact.

"We expect from the United States to cooperate closer and not to continue having a negative attitude in international negotiations [on combatting climate change]," Dimas said.

"It is absolutely necessary that they move because otherwise other countries, especially the fast-developing countries, do not have any reason to move," he added.

Dimas also criticized Australia for lacking the political will to ratify the Kyoto Protocol.

Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt called on the United States, China, and India to work harder to fight climate change. He said that "unpopular measures are unavoidable."

The UN-backed Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is working to finish a report on the impact of global warming on human life. It is expected to be released on April 6.

(AP, AFP, dpa)