Russia to Ratify Kyoto Treaty

Repran writes "The Guardian reports that politicians, industry leaders and environment groups across the world welcomed the news last night that Russia had rejuvenated international efforts to combat climate change by ratifying the Kyoto protocol."

Comments

good start

[Doc Ruby]

So we start with Kyoto. Then we demonstrate improvements without destroying economies. Then we make a new treaty, with new baselines, ratcheting up progress and dragging industry into a sustainable millennium. The alternative is no treaty, no baseline, more pollution, and destruction of the environment and the economies, not to mention people, that depend on it.

Re:duh...

[Anonymous Coward]

So, for instance, Russia currently easily meets its targets, and can sell off its credits for millions of dollars to countries that don't yet meet their targets

However, when they will re-develop, they won't be allowed to pollute more, which is the point anyway.

progress

[Doc Ruby]

So we get them into the regime when it's most attractive to them, then up the antes to eliminate their contributions to the problems. That's how the nuclear arms treaties worked, and most other successful international efforts. It's a process of diplomatic inclusion and education, as well as negotiated consensus, that replaces the policy vacuum of that lets people destroy everyone downwind.