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| Russia |
| Russian about face on Kyoto |
| 2004-04-23 |
| The Independent today reports that Russia may be about to declare it will sign up to the Kyoto protocol. The move would be a massive U-turn as minister after minister has come out in recent months to bad mouth the plan and its effects on Russia. One senior advisor to the Russian President even went so far as to liken the climate change accord to Auschwitz. Moscow has for months refused to sign the accord meaning the world emissions trading system has not come into force. Without the US on board, the protocol has to be signed by Russia in order to receive the necessary backing to become legally active. Russian newspaper reports indicate that the announcement may be made in the coming days or at the EU-Russia summit in May. Increased EU backing for Moscow’s bid to join the WTO may be behind the about-face, but better quotas for Russia under the emissions trading scheme are likely to be part of an eventual deal. |
| Posted by:Super Hose |
| #12 This is just about making Bush look bad in an election year? Unfortunately if Kerry opens his mouth to even breathe the word 'Kyoto', he may as well quit now. He is over. Wanna check another Senate voting record? |
| Posted by: john 2004-04-23 11:51:29 PM |
| #11 If they do sign, my only question is how much are the Russians getting, and who in the economically depressed EU is paying it? And are the Russians stupid enough to think they'll keep paying once the treaty is signed? Yet again I am so grateful my ancestors said good riddance to Europe. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-04-23 8:44:55 PM |
| #10 Good points. One would hope the spawn of the marriage would get the better, more dominant traits, and consign the recessive ones to the dustbin of evolution. |
| Posted by: B 2004-04-23 2:38:31 PM |
| #9 The EU will be getting cheaper oil, from Russia, in exchange for Russia getting better terms under Kyoto ..... |
| Posted by: rkb 2004-04-23 2:37:26 PM |
| #8 I'm not suggesting for a moment that Russia joining the EU would do anything for the corruption. I imagine it would expand somewhat. I just think the Russians tuned into the Islamic threat earlier and they could provide a wake up call to those in Europe that still don't get it. I also think it might give the Russians the power they crave without requiring conquest. Russia has hard workers, lots of minerals and a wobbly rule-of-law and grasp of democracy. Europe has short work weeks and rules against exploiting any of the minerals left in Europe but an overly strong sense of rule-of-law and democracy. Could be a match made in heaven. |
| Posted by: ruprecht 2004-04-23 1:37:37 PM |
| #7 ruprecht - that would be nice, and I hope you are right. I'm a little more pessimistic. The best I can see from this alliance is that it will result in infighting amongst themselves, causing them to try to align with us as they argue with each other. That's better than them using the US as their whipping boy for nationalistic fervor as they do today. The immediate need in Europe, whether they admit it or not, is to fight the Islamic threat. The danger is that they won't fight it and it will grow stonger like Hitler did when France bended over for him. France and Russia were more than happy to accept Sadaam's oil vouchers and the bottom line is the current leaders are prone to corruption - an addiction which the Islamists are more than happy to feed for their united cause. |
| Posted by: B 2004-04-23 11:41:41 AM |
| #6 Europe and Russia joining together into a single super state would probably be best for them and best for the world in the long run. The Europeans need some spine, and the Russians need some civilizing. They can then all get together and consider the Islamic menace on their southern border and ignore it or come up with a strategy. |
| Posted by: ruprecht 2004-04-23 10:56:48 AM |
| #5 I think Eurostan just got a new sugar daddy in Russia. No more relying on theose Simplise Cowboy 'Merkins. Eurostan is trying to make itself a superpower with this new addition to their little 'family.' Russia signing on to Kyoto could wind up being actual good news. How long do you think Conress would let Euro-Rabia have this nasty little 'blended family' with power to enforce its will on the US and not sanction them by ordering the UN off our soil? |
| Posted by: badanov 2004-04-23 8:59:01 AM |
| #4 Can you imagine the s@#$%t the left will be in 2020 when everyone has been freezing their butts off for 15 years and someone inconveniently points out that, hey it's not really been any warmer than it was 15 years ago... |
| Posted by: Anonymous4492 2004-04-23 8:05:12 AM |
| #3 I am not sure, but if Russia comes onboard, the UN will see Kyoto as taking effect and can start persecuting nations who do not sign it. Anyone else know? With both the US and Russia declining to sign it, the treaty was dead. Does it, at least as perceived by the UN, take effect in the US if Russia signs? Yeah, I do know that US Constitution trumps such arraignments, but with international law the way it is, not so sure it still won't be our hassle to deal with. |
| Posted by: Ben 2004-04-23 5:51:26 AM |
| #2 better quotas for Russia under the emissions trading scheme are likely to be part of an eventual deal. This decodes to the EU is going to pay Russia even more to signup. The Euros want to spend their money on this nonsense then let them. |
| Posted by: Phil B 2004-04-23 4:02:01 AM |
| #1 the EU-Russia summit in May Ahuh. There's your answer. |
| Posted by: Rafael 2004-04-23 2:28:09 AM |