APEC finance ministers see need to 'go beyond' Kyoto

COOLUM, Australia (AFP) - APEC finance ministers Friday said that the world needed to "go beyond" the Kyoto Protocol to adequately address climate change. The call came in a communique issued by the ministers following an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in the north Australian town of Coolum.

"Recognising the need to take strong and early action to address the challenge of climate change while maintaining economic growth, we considered the global architecture for addressing climate change and shared the view that it is important to establish an effective framework beyond the Kyoto Protocol under the UN climate change process," the communique said.
The Kyoto Protocol, the landmark environmental treaty negotiated in Japan's ancient capital, mandates cuts in the greenhouse gases blamed for global warming. It expires in 2012.