Posted: 09/23/2004
Russia prepares for Kyoto Ratification; or Does it?
Kyoto Will Not Impact Global Warming, Regardless of Russia’s Final Decision, Says NCPA
September 23, 2004 – According to the Associated Press, Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed his cabinet ministers to approve ratification of the Kyoto Protocol on global warming in spite of strong reservations from his chief economic advisor and many Russian scientists. Experts from the National Center for Policy Analysis’ (NCPA) E-Team said that if this news is true, it is disappointing.
“Vladimir Putin’s position regarding Kyoto has always carried a whiff of horse-trading,” said NCPA adjunct scholar Kenneth Green. “Now, perhaps in a bid to divert attention from the undemocratic developments in Russia and to buy their way into the good graces of Europe, Putin seems ready to sign onto Kyoto.” Green also directs the Centre for Studies in Risk, Regulation and Environment at Canada’s Fraser Institute.
“If this is true, it just further confirms what we all knew; Kyoto is an economic treaty not an environmental treaty,” said NCPA Senior Fellow H. Sterling Burnett. “Everyone is jockeying for an improved economic position and if they really do ratify the protocol – which is still far from certain – Russia thinks they will get enough charity in the form of payments for emission reduction credits from the EU to off set their lost economic growth.”
NCPA Adjunct Scholar Chris Horner offered a bit of caution about the report, saying: “The AP appears to be reporting straight from a press release from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). This may be another in a long series of WWF false claims that the deal’s done, all of which have been weakly explained away or ignored in the face of each subsequent event. There is still no real evidence that that a decision has been made.”
The NCPA noted that regardless of Russia’s final decision, the treaty will still do nothing to prevent warming. In fact, if every signatory nation– including the U.S. – met their commitment under the agreement, the temperature would only be a ½ degree Fahrenheit cooler than it would be otherwise.
“Sadly, none of this realpolitik can change the reality that Kyoto offers no environmental benefit, nor any protection from the innately variable climate of our planet,” said Green. “Indeed, by instituting energy rationing, Kyoto will leave the world a poorer place, with less resilience to face climate challenges.”