By Henrietta Billings - 30th September 2004
Brussels has welcomed Moscow's decision to approve the Kyoto climate change treaty, meaning the protocol can now become binding international law.
"This is a huge success for the international fight against climate change. The Commission looks forward to working with Russia on carrying out the Protocol", said EU chief Romano Prodi.
"Global climate change is a fight that our generation has to win for the sake of the future of our children and this planet. The Kyoto Protocol is the best available weapon in the hands of the international community."
The US withdrew its support to the protocol three years ago, and since then final word for the treaty to come into force has effectively rested with Moscow.
Under the protocol, six so-called green houses gases have to be cut by at least 5 per cent by 2008-2012 compared with 1990 levels.
The pact becomes will come into force once it has been ratified by 55 percent of the signatories which account for for 55 percent of carbon dioxide emissions from developed countries.
Without Russia the 122 countries which have signed up to the pact account for only 44 per cent of total emissions. Russia accounts for 17 per cent of world emissions.
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