Russia's Kyoto Protocol ratification is political - experts

interfax.ru ^ | Sep 30 2004 8:01PM | Interfax

[Destro]

Sep 30 2004 8:01PM

Russia's Kyoto Protocol ratification is political - experts

MOSCOW. Sept 30 (Interfax) - Russia's decision to ratify the Kyoto Protocol is politically motivated, said environmental experts polled by Interfax.

Anna Kashirova, head of the Russia and Kyoto Protocol think tank, assumed that the decision was made "in exchange for some other understandings, most likely with EU countries."

"Hopefully, the price of the concession is adequate. The Russian economy will suffer without additional ratification conditions," she said.

Russia will benefit from ratification only on certain conditions, for instance, if the reduction of greenhouse gases by Russian woods is taken into account, she said.

"It has been estimated that Russian woods neutralize up to 900 million tonnes of greenhouse gases. That is not reflected in the protocol. If Russia is reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, it should get compensation, for instance, in the form of payments for reforestation, or a bigger emission quota," she said.

There should be a fixed quota for greenhouse gas emissions that will be bought from Russia at a fixed price, she said. "If it is bought at the market price of $10 a tonne, Russia will be losing. A price of $70 to $100 a tonne would be a good price for us," she said.

Alexei Kokorin, head of the Russian climate change program of the World Wildlife Fund, also described the ratification as a political move. "The decision to ratify the Kyoto Protocol is undoubtedly a political step. It is a different matter that it is very good for the environment," he said.

[Destro]

This time I will use the "It's Bush's fault" line. Hear me out. Russia did not want to sign this. We all read dozens of articles where the Russians were saying how bad this was. The EU was pressuring Russia - sign or else. Why did we not make a deal with Russia? Protect each other? The State Dept. has failed this president and this country.

This is a failure in diplomacy from the White House - as distracted as it is these days with other events.

...shakes head.....so many failed opportunities.........

[Destro]

Colin Powell -- are you asleep? Russia’s approval of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change was hailed today as a triumph for European Union diplomacy.

[Pikamax]

Calm down, This is Russia getting 10 billion dollars out of the deal that they will not follow nor will anyone else since it has many loopholes in the agreement.

[COEXERJ145]

It is called a "bride". Russia has been sucking up to the E.U. for ages. They'll play ball with whomever they think will give them the most goodies. Right now that happens to be the E.U.

This is not a failure for President Bush or the Dept. of State but don't let the truth get in the way of another good Bush bashing.

[Paleo Conservative]

This time I will use the "It's Bush's fault" line.

I don't think it will hurt President Bush at all. The goals are unrealistic, and I seriously doubt any of the countries signing it will meet those goals. After all Kerry's wife owns a Gulfstream V. Are we supposed to give up our SUVs so Kerry can fly in his wife's personal jet?

[Destro]

Not bashing Bush. Why are we not alos sending in our diplo-warriors?

[Destro]

I am not excited so no need to calm down. I posted the article about the $10 billion Russian windfall negotiated with the EU.

[DSBull]

Actually Bush is not only a brave politician but he is a genius. He refused to sign this, despite the outcry from around the world and in this country. This is bad law and we shouldn't sign it. I would agree that we might have looked better siding with Russia and giving them an ally but Russia is trying to milk money out of people, they will not keep any bargain.

[spyone]

What are you talking about. The reason it hasn't been ratified to date is because of Bush diplomacy. US and Russia relations have taken a setback in the last month due to Putins constitutional moves and US interference in the Caucasus. Putin putting the squeeze on Bush and or Kerry. It puts him in a better position.

[Destro]

I agree with both of your later points. Russia took the money and they were not to happy with the words the State Dept used over the Chechen issue. I just lament what I see as weak ally making diplomacy on this and other issues.

[Destro]

What are you talking about. The reason it hasn't been ratified to date is because of Bush diplomacy.

Saying no to other diplomats is not diplomacy. Diplomacy would be to say no and get others to agree with you. But I agreed with your later point.

[Destro]

I agree that is possible. The Russian calculation could be - sign it - its unworkable anyway and won't hurt us in the long run - but at least it get the Europeans off our backs.

[struwwelpeter]

It is called a "bribe".

You got that right!

[spyone]

I think you misunderstand my point. The reason RUSSIA had not ratified it to date is due to Bush's diplomacy. The State Dept. is bungling this.

[enviros_kill]

The Science and Environmental Policy Project (SEPP) issues an excellent weekly summary of energy, science and green-inspired totalitarianism. The August 7, 2004 report related very telling observations from Putin's economic adviser:

START EXCERPT
As during an earlier conference on climate change in Moscow, the economic adviser of President Putin, Andrei Illarionov played a prominent role. During a press conference after the meeting, Illarionov complained that the Russians have repeatedly asked their foreign partners who advocate the Kyoto Protocol and who insist that Russia should ratify the Kyoto Protocol, to answer a number of specific questions. But they did not receive any reply for a year.

Illarionov: "Instead of getting replies to our questions, we kept on hearing that replies did not matter. What was important is that whether or not Russia trusts Britain, the European Union and the countries that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol and that have been exerting unprecedented pressure on Russia to ratify it. This is why it was so important for us to arrange a real meeting and a real discussion of real problems with the participation of foreign scientists who have different views ...."

After having complained about the behavior of the British delegation, headed by Sir David King, who - unsuccessfully - tried to exclude certain 'undesirable' scientists from taking the floor, Illarionov went on to criticize the ideological and philosophical basis on which the Kyoto Protocol is built:

"That ideological base can be juxtaposed and compared with man-hating totalitarian ideology with which we had the bad fortune to deal during the 20th century, such as National Socialism, Marxism, Eugenics, Lysenkoism and so on. All methods of distorting information existing in the world have been committed to prove the alleged validity of these theories. Misinformation, falsification, fabrication, mythology, propaganda. Because what is offered cannot be qualified in any other way than myth, nonsense and absurdity."
END EXCERPT

The green 'boot on a face' is only a different color than the Nazi or Communist version. Ironically, the Russian economist recognizes this while the MSM and the EU commie-light Kyoto-backers ignore it.

[Destro]

I agree - the only reason I said "Bush fault" is that he has not taken State to task.