Were last weeks headlines proclaiming the end of the Kyoto Agreement correct?
The word from the Russions since, is that hope still remains that despite various opinions that the Kyoto protocol imposes limits on the economic growth, the Russian Federation wants to ratify and will move in that direction. They regret the conclusion the western press drew from statements made by President’s Economic Advisor Andrew Illarionov (2nd and 4th Dec.) that Russia is not going to participate in resolving the global climate change issue. At the 3rd December press conference Deputy Minister of Economy, Co-Chairman of the Russian Interagency Committee on Climate Change M. Tsikanov stated, that Russia is moving towards the ratification. According to him, the Government is evaluating the potential benefits of international cooperation under the Kyoto protocol and the decision on its ratification will be made based upon “real interest yet to be expressed by European Union and Japan”.
