The accord, announced by Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder after a meeting with Bush today in Mainz, Germany, covers scientific cooperation, the development of less polluting technology and joint action to make energy producers more efficient.

``The United States and Germany both have tremendous know- how, and we would like to deepen cooperation in this field,'' Schroeder said at a joint press conference with Bush. He said ``differences remain'' between the two governments over Kyoto.

Under the 1990 Kyoto Protocol, which came into force Feb. 16, the EU and 35 nations agreed to cut by about 5 percent from 1990 levels emissions of six gases that scientists say cause the Earth's climate to warm. The U.S. and Australia are among nations that haven't accepted the accord.

Bush said in March 2001 the treaty would be too expensive for U.S. companies, and that developing nations such as China and India should also have targets to cut their emissions. The White House has said signing up to Kyoto could cost the U.S. more than 5 million jobs. Under the Kyoto provisions, the U.S. would have to cut emissions by 7 percent from 1990 levels.

German Environment Minister Juergin Trittin said last week that ``we have to include the U.S. again in the international process of climate protection. The world's biggest emitter has to assume responsibility.''

Methane Use

Under today's agreement, the two countries will work together on projects to promote the commercial use of the greenhouse gas methane, on making heat and power production from coal and natural gas cleaner and more efficient and on research into hydrogen and fuel-cell technologies, as well as promoting greater use of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. They didn't commit to any numerical targets.

Global warming caused by human action is the root of rising sea levels, melting ice caps and more erratic weather patterns, scientists at a conference in Exeter, England, said earlier this month. British Prime Minister Tony Blair has made dealing with climate change a priority of the U.K.'s presidency of the Group of Eight leading industrialized countries this year.