NZ Prime Minister Helen Clark will be flying into a debate on how much emphasis should be placed on nuclear power to combat climate change when she arrives in Sydney on Friday. Foreign Minister Winston Peters said his colleagues had drafted a joint statement on climate change policy for leaders to sign which was "okay" but there were still questions over the vexed issue of nuclear power. Ministerial meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (Apec) have been dominated by climate change policy, but New Zealand has found itself on a different side of the table from the US and Australia. New Zealand wants countries to set specific targets to reduce greenhouse gases, while Australian Prime Minister John Howard is trying to get all 21 Apec members to commit to more general goals as leaders get ready to debate the issue over the weekend. Mr Howard is also a strong supporter of nuclear power to reduce pollution.US President George Bush also believes that nuclear power is the key to cutting greenhouse gas emissions. "If you truly care about greenhouse gases then you'll support nuclear power," he said. "If you believe that greenhouse gases are a problem ... if you take the issue seriously like I do and John (Howard) does then you should be supportive of nuclear power." (Yahoo Xtra News)
