Russia ratifies climate treaty

[GHOSTDANCER]

<http://www.abc.net.au/ra/news/stories/s1226355.htm>

The Kyoto Protocol on climate change could come into effect within months - after the Russian parliament officially ratified the treaty.

Moscow correspondent Emma Griffiths reports the Russian Cabinet, led by President Vladimir Putin, approved the Kyoto protocol last month.

It sent a law to the Russian Parliament - the Duma - to formally ratify the treaty.
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"First, we would not accept a treaty that would not have been ratified,
nor a treaty that I thought made sense for the country."
— GW Bush; on the Kyoto accord, April 24, 2001

"We'll be working with our allies to reduce greenhouse gases. But I will not accept a plan that will harm our economy and hurt American workers."
-- U.S. President George W. Bush <>

[GHOSTDANCER]

1. I can't believe no one found this exciting?

bahhh

[Lisa]

3. this is VERY exciting!

It's really the first time there's been such a broad base of international support for what is (admittedly) a pretty serious environmental problem -- more specifically, for an attempt to fix it. Because so many more people are involved in carbon emissions than in, say, the production of ozone-destroying CFCs, getting international approval for this was several orders of magnitude more difficult.

There must be much rejoicing at the treaty headquarters -- they can't add Russia officially yet, but I notice they've retooled their website to look more like a scientific/policy clearinghouse.

http://unfccc.int/essential_background/kyoto_protocol/status_of_ratification/items/2613.php

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. A few more posts here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=924441

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=924254

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=115&topic_id=15714

[theophilus]

2. I think it is exciting!

And I will really be excited when I see the rest of the world actually reducing these emissions and working toward solving the problems of upcoming climate change. But, I am also saddened that my country chooses to remain part of the problem and not of the solution. What a giant downer! I pray that this will change..... :-)