Kyoto still Kicking

By Staff Utne Magazine
Published on March 1, 2003

The Bush administration?s refusal to ratify the Kyoto protocol
on cutting greenhouse gases has led many to assume the treaty has
been effectively scuttled. But with the Canadian parliament
ratifying it in December and the Russian parliament considering
ratification as well, the treaty remains alive. Russian
ratification is seen as critical. As the last major industrial
country (besides the U.S.) to consider the accord (the European
Union and Japan have already ratified it), Russia could push the
number of countries embracing the treaty past the point required
for the accord to take effect. Countries accounting for 55 percent
of 1990 carbon dioxide pollution levels must sign before it becomes
international law.

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