WASHINGTON, DC, May 21, 2004 -- The World Resources Institute applauds the announcement in Moscow by Russian President Valdimir Putin that Russia would "accelerate progress toward ratification" of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.

"President Putin's announcement regarding the Protocol irreversibly changes the agenda. WRI applauds the leaders of the European Union for stepping forward and breaking the logjam with respect to Russian ratification. The developed world has begun to come to terms with the inevitability of carbon reductions and is committed to responding accordingly," said Jonathan Lash, president of the World Resources Institute. "The Protocol's entry into force provides a framework for addressing the issue of global warming. Today's statement moves the world further down the path to addressing this critical problem."
 
Ratification of the Kyoto Protocol has been in the hands of Russia since the United States pulled out of the Protocol in 2001. The matter must now go before the Russian Duma for formal ratification. Should this take place, the Kyoto Protocol will have the endorsement of developed nations representing 55 percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which is a precursor for the Protocol officially entering into force.

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For more information, contact:

World Resources Institute
Paul Mackie, senior media officer, +1(202)729-7684, pmackie@wri.org
Christopher Lagan, WRI media officer, (202) 729-7684, clagan@wri.org