Russian Government Approves Kyoto Protocol Ratification
Created: 30.09.2004 14:02 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 15:17 MSK, 4 hours 13 minutes ago
On Thursday, September 30, the Russian Cabinet of Ministers has approved the project of a federal law to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, an environmental treaty aimed to curb the emission of greenhouse gases. The law now has to be approved by the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian Parliament, and then by the Federation Council. Neither of the legislative bodies where Russian President Putin has a pro-government majority should pose any threat to ratification of Kyoto.
The Kyoto Protocol, signed in 1997, calls for a cap on greenhouse gas emissions aimed to lower the effects of global warming. The treaty will be ratified if it is signed by developed nations, which are responsible for over half of all emissions. Since the United Stated pulled out of the pact in 2001, saying that it was too costly and will harm the country’s industry, Russia, with 17 percent of the total emissions, remains the only country that can make or break the treaty.
Russia has long been undecided about its stance on Kyoto, although it was strongly urged to ratify the treaty by the European Union. In May 2004 following WTO accession talks with EU Russia’s President Putin promised that the country will ratify the Protocol, but no further steps were made at that time. The situation was made more difficult by the fact that the Russian government has split up on this issue.
The opponents of Kyoto protocol, headed by Putin’s controversial economic policies advisor Andrei Illarionov, argued that joining the environmental treaty would seriously impede Russia’s economic growth and nullify the chances of doubling GDP by 2010. As recently as last week Illarionov even compared the Protocol to fascism, saying that it “is based on the most insolent intervention in the economic growth, in particular, and the development of human civilization, in general”.
The supporters of Kyoto, headed by the Economy Minister German Gref, said that the treaty, which allows countries to trade greenhouse gas emission allowances, would enable Russia to attract foreign investment to improve the energy efficiency and competitiveness of its crumbling industries. To add to the discussion Russian scientists, asked for their expert opinion directly by President Putin, also called the Kyoto Protocol a scientifically unfounded nonsense.
Putin, who seems to have the final say on virtually every issue in Russian politics, was undecided until very recently. Even in the beginning of September media reported that decision on Kyoto was postponed until December, and such government agencies as the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Natural Resources were quoted as being against the ratification. But on September 23 the Natural Resources Ministry announced that it endorses Kyoto, signaling that President Putin finally made up his mind and mostly likely ordered the government officials to speed up the ratification of environmental protocol.
At its Thursday meeting, where Kyoto Protocol was approved, the Russian government also decided that in the next three months various ministries and government agencies will prepare their suggestions for the complex plan of actions that will help Russia realize its obligations and rights, stipulated in the Protocol.
Quelle: MosNews