BBC (Tuesday): Russia pulls away from Kyoto pact

[Jack Rabbit]

From the BBC Online
Dated Tuesday December 2 12:56 GMT (4:56 am PST)

Russia pulls away from Kyoto pact
By Alex Kirby
BBC News Online environment correspondent

Russia says it will not ratify in its present form the Kyoto Protocol designed to mitigate global warming.
"The Kyoto protocol places significant limitations on the economic growth of Russia," presidential aide Andrei Illarionov told a conference in Milan.
The landmark environmental pact cannot now enter into legal force, especially since the US has also repudiated it.
It means the protocol will either have to be renegotiated or the nations that have signed will have to go it alone.
The Russian decision, announced at a meeting of the countries which are members of the United Nations Climate Change Convention, is a devastating blow to hopes for international agreement on tackling climate change.

Unfortunately, it appears that the Bushies found a new and powerful alley in their war against Mother Earth.

This is devastating.

[Vernunft]

1. What did you expect ?

Putin knows that the entire paper is completely worthless without the US signing it so by tossing it he appears strong at home without getting in trouble internationally. It´s a present for him and you can be sure other countries will follow. I´m quite surprised it took that long actually. I expected things like that to happen mere weeks after Bush tore it up in the face of the World.

[Muddleoftheroad]

3. Quick question

Did you really think the Senate would pass Kyoto? Heck, Clinton didn't even send it to the Senate because of that.

[hatrack]

2. Well, there's a surprise - NOT!

I guess they were so astonished by the amazing Freedom Car Initiative that they suddenly realized that, gosh, with all those hydrogen cars coming soon - no, seriously, really, really soon - who needs an emissions treaty?

Chalk up one for the amazingly charismatic Spencer Abraham!

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. Thanks Bush.

The Great leader that's leading us all into a dark black hole.

[ze_dscherman]

5. Australia won't sign either

"What the Labor Party wants us to do is to sign up to something that will place burdens on Australian industry, but not impose the same burdens, Mr Speaker, on industries of other countries which could well be our competitors," Mr Howard told parliament.

"I'm not going to a be party to something that destroys jobs and destroys the competitiveness of Australian industry."


http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/12/02/1070127416251.html

[Capt_Nemo]

6. Putin is sending a message to western european leaders

He's saying: "You didn't care for Russia's legitimate concerns
when the US decided to destroy the ABM treaty, now you will taste
from the same medicine. Nice "ally" you got there, the US..."

Also, he lacks the money for revamping the industries needed to
comply with the treaty's targets.

[aneerkoinos]

7. shit shit shit shit

Bad news. OK, now here's what EU should say to Russia (privately):

If you want in WTO, ratify Kyoto. Then we can let you subsidise
petrol for your own citizens. Play hardball.