Press Release
Protesters to put pressure on Putin to
ratify the Kyoto climate change treaty
London, June 24, 2003 - Protesters,
demanding that Russia ratifies the Kyoto
Protocol, will greet in London on Thursday
June 26 Tony Blair and Russian leader
Vladimir Putin, as they open a high level
energy conference. [1] Protesters will carry
banners, in English and Russian, saying:
“Ratify Kyoto Now!”
“Don’t sink the climate treaty!”
“Bush – NO! Kyoto – YES!”
Four months ago, today (Tuesday -
24/6/03), Tony Blair called for a“concerted
international effort” to fight climate
change, which he said was “unquestionably the
most urgent environmental challenge” [2]. The
Kyoto Protocol is the only international
treaty that will cut the pollution causing
it. Russian ratification would mean Kyoto
would enter into force [3].
Protestors are calling on Mr Blair to put
pressure on Mr. Putin to announce a fixed
date by which Russia will ratify Kyoto. The
agenda for the conference centres around
exploiting Russia’s large gas reserves, which
Europe and the UK need to replace coal.
However Russia also has large oil and coal
reserves and without Kyoto in place
environmentalists fear Russian and UK
collaboration will be disastrous for the
environment. Oil giant BP is already said to
be buying a 50 per cent stake in Russia’s
third largest oil company, TNK. [4]
Friends of the Earth Climate Campaigner
Bryony Worthington in London commented:
“Just four months ago, Tony Blair called
for a concerted international effort to
combat climate change. President Putin’s
visit to Britain is a great opportunity for
Blair to urge him to set a date by which
Russia will ratify the Kyoto Protocol.
Without this international climate change
agreement in place there should be no deals
between the UK and Russia to exploit its
fossil fuel reserves.”
ENDS
For more information:
In London, Bryony Worthington, Friends of
the Earth: +44-207-5661672 or +44-7876-130352
(mobile)
Notes to editors:
[1] The “Russia-UK Energy Conference -
Long Term Partners” is organised by the Royal
Institute of International Affairs. Keynote
Speakers include Vladimir Putin, President,
Russian Federation; The Rt Hon Tony Blair MP,
Prime Minister, United Kingdom; Alexei
Miller, Chief Executive, Gazprom; Sir Philip
Watts, Chairman of the Committee of Managing
Directors, Royal Dutch/Shell Group; Robert
Dudley, Group Vice President for Russia, BP
plc and John Martin, Managing Director and
Head, Integrated Energy Europe, ABN AMRO. It
is taking place at Lancaster House,
London.
[2] 10 Downing Street (24 February 2003)
“PM: ‘Concerted international effort
necessary to fight climate change”
http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page3073.asp
[3] Kyoto has now been by over 100
countries, including the UK. To become
binding, it needs to be ratified by countries
representing 55% of industrialised country
emissions. Now that the US, the world’s
biggest polluter, has rejected Kyoto, its
entry into force depends on Russia. President
Putin and members of the Russian government
have promised to ratify it, but haven’t
submitted the necessary documents to the
Russian parliament.
[4] “Vladimir Putin makes first historic
visit to Britain – first Russian state visit
since Romanovs”. from Reuters 23 June 2003.
and "Oil major BP will finalize an agreement
to buy a 50 percent stake in No. 3 oil firm
TNK" from
http://www.eng.mineral.ru/Chapters/News/7648.html
|
