At a meeting in Moscow with EU reps, President Putin says Russia will speed up its ratification of the Kyoto Protocol. The EU has been trying for more than a year to persuade Russia to ratify the 1997 agreement onclimate change. PUtin makes this announcement immediately after Russia and the EU sign an agreement on the terms for Russia's entry to the WTO.

Website: http://pubs.bna.com/jp/BNA/den.nsf/js/a0a8t8w4f3 (Buereau of National Affairs membership only site).

As a side note, I note that ratification of Kyoto is easy for Russia. Target GHG air emission amounts under Appendix A of Kyoto are based on the 1990 emission rates. Russia actually is producing LESS emissions that it did in 1990, based on factory closings in Russia during the post-fall of the USSR activities. Those lesser emissions will actually be available under Article XVIII of the protocol for SALE to other nations such as the US. While on the one hand this is called "Russia's hot air" by the preiminent climate change NGO's, it may also be the thing to tip the scale for USA approval of Kyoto. With all those Russian air emmission units out there for sale, the USA will be happy to scoop them up at a discounted rate, and claim "compliance" under Kyoto and the underlying UN 1994 agreement.

Too wonky for ya? Sorry. ;)