Russian Ratification Of The Kyoto Protocol

WWF Press Statement 8 December 2003

Russian ratification of the Kyoto Protocol: slowly but surely

The results of yesterday's elections to the Duma, the lower house of the Russian Parliament, show that Russian ratification is still on track and that final ratification could take place after the Presidential elections in March 2004, said WWF today.

"The Presidential Party's victory in these elections puts even more responsibility on President Putin's shoulders to ensure a fast ratification process," said Alexey Kokorin, head of WWF-Russia's Climate Change Programme. "Overall opposition to Kyoto in the Duma has been reduced and all eyes are on the President now."

Below is a brief history of the Russian government's recent statements on ratification of Kyoto:

June 2003: The working group of the Presidium of the State Council of the Russian Federation - personally chaired by President Vladimir Putin - recommended ratification of the Kyoto protocol.

August 2003: The Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade and Co-Chairman of the Russian Interagency Committee on Climate Change, Mukhamed Tsikanov, expressed his opinion that Russia could ratify before the end of this year.

19 September 2003: The Russian Interagency Committee on Climate Change approved a draft concept of the legal basis for implementing the Kyoto Protocol in the national legislation, prepared by the Ministry of the Economy.

30 September 2003: President Vladimir Putin announced at the Climate Conference in Moscow that Russia would take its time to evaluate the consequences of ratification and set the national policy around Russia's interests.

19 October 2003: President Putin confirmed once more at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Bangkok that the Russian Federation was in favour of ratifying the Kyoto Protocol.

28 October 2003: Efforts continue to develop the national "Kyoto" policy. Following plans to prepare the decision on ratification established last year by Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Khristenko, the Minister of Natural Resources, Viktor Artyukhov, initiated a pilot stage for Kyoto mechanisms on regulation and trade of carbon emissions in three regions of the Russian Federation.

3 December 2003: Deputy Minister Tsikanov stated that Russia is moving towards ratification, dismissing President Putin's economic advisor Andrei Illarionov's message on 2 December that Russia would not ratify Kyoto. According to Mukhamed Tsikanov, the Government is evaluating the benefits of international cooperation under the Kyoto Protocol and the decision on its ratification will depend on clear signals from the European Union and Japan to buy carbon emission permits.

For further information:

Alexey Kokorin, WWF-Russia Climate Change Director, +39 339 7240764, akokorin@wwf.ru

Martin Hiller, WWF Climate Change Programme, +41 79 347 2256, mhiller@wwfint.org

Mitzi Borromeo, WWF International Press Officer, +41 79 477 3553, mborromeo@wwfint.org

SIDE EVENT AT COP9 IN MILAN: Business representatives will present their views on the situation of the Kyoto Protocol on 8 December, 1.00 pm -3.00 pm * check CCTV for location

WWF CLIMATE CHANGE PROGRAMME

http://www.panda.org/climate/

Martin Hiller - WWF Climate Change Communications Manager WWF International - Av du Mont Blanc - CH-1196 Gland - Switzerland mhiller@wwfint.org

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