The treaty, negotiated in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997 and signed by former President Clinton, called for the United States to reduce emissions of heat-trapping gases by 2012. No industrial nations have ratified it. Most scientists believe gases such as carbon dioxide are key contributors to global warming. Last week, Bush announced he would not seek to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by U.S. power plants, reversing his earlier position. The next United Nations meeting on the agreement is scheduled for this summer.
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