Australia, previously criticized for not ratifying the Kyoto Protocol, has now called for the agreement to be scrapped, stating that it should be left in the past. Despite warnings that Greenhouse Gas emissions are expected to increase, Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull believes Australia will still meet its targets under the pact. Turnbull suggested that Kyoto should be replaced with a new global agreement that includes major players like India, China, and the United States. He expressed doubt that the United States would ever ratify the protocol in its current form. The first commitment period of Kyoto is soon becoming a thing of the past in terms of climate change history. The Kyoto Protocol, which places limits on emissions for wealthy countries but not for poorer countries like China, is set to expire in 2012. Australia, the largest exporter of coal in the world, has chosen not to ratify the agreement or enforce mandatory reductions in carbon emissions, citing potential negative impacts on the economy. Instead, Australia has announced plans to invest A$18.5 million in China to help reduce emissions by capturing methane from underground mining and using it for electricity generation. China, a member of a different climate pact along with the United States, Australia, Japan, India, and South Korea, has rejected emissions caps, fearing they could hinder economic growth. Australian Prime Minister Turnbull believes in practical measures to combat climate change rather than symbolic agreements like Kyoto, and criticizes the protocol for failing to address deforestation in countries like Indonesia and Brazil. "He mentioned that Kyoto's outcomes have been lackluster for a reason," said. The Climate Institute, an independent organization, recently reported that Australia, which is the top polluter per person globally, is set to exceed its limit of 108 percent of greenhouse emissions from 1990, a claim that Turnbull disputed with the latest data from 2005. Australian Greens Senator Christine Milne accused Turnbull of trying to hide the fact that energy and transport emissions have increased in the past two years due to the country's mining and export boom. Prime Minister John Howard, a conservative, argues that climate change solutions should be agreed upon globally rather than being restricted to industrialized European nations like the 'Old Kyoto' agreement. With the upcoming re-election and polls showing that 80 percent of voters consider climate change a significant issue, Howard has introduced various environmental measures to enhance his reputation in environmental matters. Australia is anticipated to prioritize taking action against climate change in the upcoming May 8 Budget, as the government has already indicated that it plans to spend A$10 billion on improving water usage in response to a prolonged period of severe drought.