friends of the earth international
media advisory
russia ratifies climate change
treaty
November 5, 2004 -- US President George
Bush became further isolated on the issue of
global climate change today following Russian
ratification of the climate change treaty
known as 'Kyoto protocol'.
Under the treaty industrialised nations
responsible for 55 per cent of greenhouse gas
emissions must ratify the protocol before it
can come into effect. Now that Russia has
ratified the treaty this key threshold has
been reached.
The treaty should now become legally
binding within 90 days of Russia notifying
the United Nations.
The Kyoto protocol is only the first step
towards tackling climate change. Much bigger
cuts in greenhouse gases will be required in
the years ahead.
President Bush has refused to ratify the
treaty claiming it would harm the US economy.
The US is the world's biggest polluter –
despite having around only four per cent of
the global population it is responsible for
around 25 per cent of the world's carbon
dioxide emissions.
Working with corporate contributors to his
campaign, President Bush is expected to try
once again to pass at home an energy bill
that favors coal, oil and nuclear power over
cleaner sources such as solar and wind power.
The bill might allow for drilling in the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Friends of the Earth International's
vice-chair, Tony Juniper, said:
"Despite the best efforts of the USA and
some of its major corporations, the Kyoto
Protocol lives. This is an historic moment
for life on Earth and must pave the way for
new agreements to reduce climate changing
emissions. But intense international pressure
must also be placed on President Bush and the
United States to finally acknowledge the
scale of the threat we now face and to take
action to deal with it."
"The USA is the world's biggest polluter
and has a moral responsibility to reduce the
pollution that is rapidly warming up the
world. If it does not, its own economy and
society will pay a heavy price," he
added.
Friends of the Earth International is the
largest grassroots environmental network in
the world with more than one million members
in 70 countries.
for more information
Friends of the Earth International
vice-chair, Tony Juniper
Tel: +44-20 75661649 (press office) or email
media@foe.co.uk
The United Nations Convention on Climate
Change website is
http://www.unfccc.org/
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