Kyoto treaty about to become effective

As was expected, Russia's lower house of parliament has approved the treaty (on a vote of 334-73) Iit is now going to the upper house, where it is expected to pass, and then to Putin for signature.

Russia's ratification is necessary to put the pact into effect, because the United States had declined to ratify the treaty. The pact must be ratified by 55 countries that accounted for at least 55% of global emissions in 1990.

The United States alone accounted for 36% of carbon dioxide emissions in 1990.

  Aljazeera article

Surprise.