October 1, 2004)- . Since
> 1997, Environmental Defense scientists, economists,
> members and
> activists have been working in Russia advocating the
> country to
> embrace the protocol. On Thursday, our work paid off
> when Russia
> announced it would submit the Kyoto Protocol on
> Climate Change
> to its parliament (the State Duma) for ratification.
>
>
> *Why Is This Critical?*
> Though ratified by over 100 countries, Kyoto
> requires
> ratification by one more major country - like Russia
> -- before
> it can take affect. Once Russia ratifies it, the
> Kyoto Protocol
> will go into force around the world, "creating," in
> the words of
> Environmental Defense President Fred Krupp said, the
> world's
> first global platform for addressing the dangers of
> global
> warming."
>
> *Where's the United States?*
> Unfortunately, while the rest of the world moves
> toward a
> cleaner energy future and a more stable climate, the
> United
> States has left itself out. The Bush Administration
> pulled out
> of the treaty three years ago.
>
> *Time to Celebrate and Get to Work*
> While Environmental Defense is celebrating Russia's
> move, the
> Kyoto treaty still must be ratified by the Russian
> parliament;
> this is expected to happen soon. Environmental
> Defense's Climate
> and Air program director Peter Goldmark says, "It's
> not over
> until the fat lady sings, but it seems she is
> clearing her
> throat in anticipation." Annie Petsonk,
> Environmental Defense's
> international counsel and a leading climate
> negotiator, will
> continue to work for passage. Yesterday she hailed
> Russia's move
> indicating that it "sends a signal that the age of
> carbon limits
> has arrived."
>
> *What America Can Do*
> The U.S. can still do its part to undo global
> warming. How? By
> passing the Climate Stewardship Act, a bipartisan
> bill in
> Congress that sets mandatory greenhouse gas
> pollution limits in
> the U.S. Senate sponsors John McCain (R-AZ) and Joe
> Lieberman
> (D-CT) are fighting to pass this bill in the Senate
> with growing
> momentum--and there are now 82 co-sponsors of the
> bill in the
> U.S. House of Representatives. The Climate
> Stewardship Act would
> put the U.S. on track to joining the world in
> decreasing the
> threat of global warming.
>
>



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