Vol. 571 No. 2
308 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the efforts made by the Government to encourage the Russian Federation to sign the Kyoto treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21406/03]
For the Kyoto Protocol to enter into force, it must be ratified or acceded to by 55 parties that together account for 55% of 1990 developed country CO² emissions. To date 118 parties, accounting for 44.2% of 1990 developed country CO² emissions, have ratified or acceded to the protocol. As the US has stated that it will not ratify it, entry into force can now only be triggered through ratification by the Russian Federation.
EU international policy on climate change is determined through close co-ordination between all member states and the European Commission and a common EU position is presented externally. Negotiations with other parties are generally conducted by the Troika, comprising the EU Presidency, the incoming Presidency and the Commission. The Government, primarily through my Department, is working within the EU and the Troika system to encourage the Russian Federation to progress its ratification to ensure the protocol enters into force at the earliest possible date. The EU has made specific calls on the Russian Federation to expedite its ratification and meetings have taken place between EU and Russian representatives.
I will continue to work within the EU framework to encourage Russian ratification before and during Ireland's Presidency in 2004.
