PUTIN SIGNS OFF ON KYOTO PROTOCOL; GLOBAL EMISSIONS SET TO INCREASE
Discuss this publicationShare your views with other visitors, and read what they have to say
On 4 November, Russian President Putin signed a bill endorsing Russia’s ratification of the Kyoto Protocol to combat climate change. The Russian parliament had voted in favour of ratification on 27 October (see BRIDGES Weekly, 27 October 2004), leaving Putin to complete the process. Russia had been stalling on ratification for over two years, leaving observers to question what the final fate of the Protocol would be. Only Russia could trigger the Protocol’s entry into force after the US — the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter — pulled out in 2001. Russia’s ratification has been linked to EU support for Russia’s WTO accession, formalised at a summit in May (see BRIDGES Weekly, 2 June 2004). Once the ratification documents are delivered to the UN, the Kyoto Protocol will enter into force after 90 days.
In related news, projections from the International Energy Agency (IEA) — released in the “World Energy Assessment 2004″ on 26 October — show that under the status quo, world primary energy demand is set to rise by 59 percent from now until 2030. About 85 percent of the increase is projected to be in the form of carbon-emitting fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas; two-thirds of the new demand would come from developing countries, primarily from China and India. The IEA also provides an alternative scenario based on vigorous government action to steer the world onto a sustainable energy path. Claude Mandil, Executive Director of the IEA, stressed however that ultimately, “achieving a truly sustainable energy system will depend on technological breakthroughs that radically alter how we produce and use energy”. This will be a monumental task both for countries that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol, and those that remain outside.
To access the World Energy Assessment 2004 visit Internet.
“Putin clears way for Kyoto pact,” CNN, 5 November 2004; “Russia’s upper house backs Kyoto,” BBC, 27 October 2004; “Russia ratifies Kyoto protocol,” ITAR-TASS, 27 October 2004; “Russian Parliament’s Kyoto Ratification Underlines Bush Isolation,” ONEWORLDUS, 25 October 2004; “IEA Director Releases Latest World Energy Outlook, Says Current Energy Trends Call for Urgent and Decisive Policy Responses”, IEA RELEASE, 26 October 2004.
Add a comment
Enter your details and a comment below, then click Submit Comment. We’ll review and publish the best comments.