27 October 2004 -- Russia's upper house of parliament today ratified the Kyoto Protocol and sent it to President Vladimir Putin for the final stamp of approval.
The move will bring the global climate pact into force early next year.
The protocol aims to stem global warming by reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. The quick vote came four days after the lower house ratified the treaty.
Without Russia's support, the pact -- which has been rejected by the United States and Australia -- cannot come into effect. It needs ratification by 55 industrialized nations accounting for at least 55 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions in 1990.
(AP)
The protocol aims to stem global warming by reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. The quick vote came four days after the lower house ratified the treaty.
Without Russia's support, the pact -- which has been rejected by the United States and Australia -- cannot come into effect. It needs ratification by 55 industrialized nations accounting for at least 55 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions in 1990.
(AP)