27/07/2005 (Agence Europe) - Australia and the United States, two industrialised countries that have not signed the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, have negotiated a regional pact alternative to the Kyoto Protocol with China, India and South Korea in order to combat global warming. The news was disclosed on Wednesday by the Australian press. The Australian reported on an “Asia/Pacific Partnership for clean development and climate” which brings together the nations that together contribute to over 40% of the global greenhouse gas emissions. According to AP, Ian Campbell, Australia's Environment Minister, considers it “vital for developed countries to create and deploy modern technologies to help energy-hungry Asia-Pacific economies such as China and India to slash emissions”. China, India and South Korea - three developing countries with strong economic growth - have ratified the Kyoto Protocol but, unlike the industrialised countries, are not yet bound to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. In answer to questions on the estimated impact that such an agreement would have on the future of the Kyoto Protocol, Barbara Helfferich, spokesperson for Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas, simply replied: “The agreement is not official. The European Commission does not know the details”.