Brussels, 15/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - Rather than aiming to cut greenhouse gas emissions, the United States new action plan for combating climate change has come in for criticisms from Margot Wallström, the EU Environment Minister. Commenting on the plan that George Bush unveiled on Thursday, the Commission said in a press release that 'The US, as the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has a great responsibility in contributing to global efforts to combat climate change. But the plan is no alternative to the Kyoto Protocol to which the EU remains fully committed. The Protocol is the only effective international framework for combating global warming and we urge the United States to return to the Kyoto process. It seems that President Bush's proposals will not lead to a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions but allow a significant increase. This raises the question whether the US will be able to meet its commitments under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change."