1.   But the poorer nations would also have to accept binding targets for cutting emissions.

2.   Can real progress be made without binding targets?

3.   Last Wednesday, Argentina became the first developing country to announce that it would assume binding targets and timetables for controlling emissions.

4.   Now the pressure is on to step up the pace of international action and, for the first time, adopt legally binding targets and timetables.

5.   Twenty-one other industrialized countries would meet similar binding targets.

6.   As recently as Tuesday, however, China reiterated it would not accept early binding targets.

7.   At the Kyoto conference, nations set a legally binding target to curb emissions which must be met, he said.

8.   Australia has become increasingly isolated ahead of an international summit in Japan in December which will consider fixing binding targets for greenhouse gas emissions.

9.   But he said they remain opposed to adoption of binding targets at the Kyoto conference.