European environment ministers have strongly criticized the United States and Canada for their stands on cutting greenhouse gasses. 

Ministers from the Group of Seven Industrialized Nations and Russia had harsh words for the United States, which last year abandoned the Kyoto agreement to cut greenhouse gasses in favor of voluntary cuts. 

Meeting in Alberta, Canada some of the ministers called President Bush's argument that the pact would harm the U.S. economy inadequate. They accused Mr. Bush of being politically afraid to ask Americans to alter their lifestyles and consume less energy. They also criticized Canada for drifting away from its commitment to ratify Kyoto. The Ottawa government is calling for more consultations. It says it has already cutting pollution by exporting cleaner forms of energy to the United States, including electricity and natural gas. 

The contentious two-day meeting ended Sunday with a warning that worldwide environmental degradation continues. 

Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.

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