Leading
environmental organisations have welcomed the Russian Duma backing of the Kyoto
Protocol, following last week’s vote in the parliament. Greenpeace and Friends
of the Earth called the vote - which is likely to see the international
legislative launch of the treaty seven years after its conception – a major
step forward in the fight against climate change.Greenpeace Executive Director Stephen Tindale said; "We now need to roll up our sleeves and work to build on the Kyoto Protocol to ensure that the industrial revolution of the 20th century will be followed by a clean energy revolution of equal magnitude for the 21st century"
With Kyoto entering into force, focus is expected to shift back onto the US and Australia, who have both famously opted-out of the programme over economic concerns.
"If they want to be responsible members of the world community they must wake up to the threat of climate change, sign up to Kyoto, and take urgent action to cut their emissions,” said Friends of the Earth International's climate campaigner Catherine Pearce.
