Russia steps closer to ratifying Kyoto
The Russian parliament stepped closer to ratifying the 1997 Kyoto Protocol on restraining global warming on Thursday, a move which could see the trans-national treaty finally coming into force.
The Protocol aims to cut emissions like carbon dioxide by about five per cent from 1990 levels by 2010.
President Vladimir Putin’s government next month will host a gathering of world leaders to discuss climate change, according to Irina Osokina, a deputy minister in the Natural Resources Ministry.
“I cannot tell you the exact date, I can only tell you that we will ratify it,” Ms Osokina told reporters during a visit to Lulea in northern Sweden.
“It’s not a question of ‘if’, it’s a question of ‘when’,” she added.
Ms Osokina forecasted that the treaty could be presented to Russia’s parliament after the legislature resumes on September 9.
The EU has pressed Russia for over a year to ratify and endorse the treaty after the US rejected the Protocol two years ago.
The treaty is void until Russia, a relatively heavy emitter of “greenhouse gases,” signs up.
For the Kyoto Protocol to have a legal force, 55 countries or more, which combined account for 55 per cent of greenhouse gases emissions, must embrace the treaty.
Without Russia, the threshold would not be reached.
Canada, the EU, Japan, among others developed nations have signed up.
With Russian’s endorsement, the Protocol could come into force after 90 days.
