Russia signs up to Kyoto

4.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 30th Sep 2004

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that Russia will ratify the Kyoto Treaty. The Kyoto protocol was agreed seven years ago but has floundered due to a number of countries not signing like the United States of America and Australia and Russia dragging its feet.

Countries that have ratified Kyoto have agreed to reduce carbon emissions by 2010. The UK's target is 12.5%, the EU has a whole is committed to an 8% reduction. Kyoto allows the 'selling' of carbon credits to allow other countries to reduce their emissions more than others but be rewarded financially.

The treaty, when fully ratified by Russia will come into Law, hopefully this will increase the pressure on both the USA and Australia to also ratify the treaty and take global warming and emission seriously.