Canada to Vote on Kyoto Ratification as Early as Monday

Washington, D.C.--The Canadian Parliament is scheduled to vote on ratification of the Kyoto Protocol as early as Monday of next week. A yes vote is expected by a large majority of members. Canada’s ratification would provide a significant boost to the 1997 treaty, bringing it one step closer to entering into force.

"Canada appears ready to move beyond debate on Kyoto and join the global community in taking real action on climate change," states Worldwatch research associate, Janet Sawin.  "This recognition that it is time to commit to emissions reductions is encouraging."

To date, nearly 100 countries have ratified or acceded to the treaty. If Russia also ratifies, as leaders have indicated it will, the Kyoto Protocol will come into effect.

U.S. President George W. Bush rejected Kyoto in early 2001 in favor of voluntary incentives to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases contributing to global climate change. This was despite polls showing that a large majority of Americans believe we should act now to address the threat posed by global warming and that federal emissions standards are needed.

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The following articles from the Worldwatch publication, Vital Signs 2002 http://www.worldwatch.org/pubs/vs/2002/index.html contain information about and/or related to Kyoto:

Global Temperature Close to a Record http://www.worldwatch.org/fef/vs02temp.pdf
Carbon Emissions Reach New High http://www.worldwatch.org/fef/vs02carbon.pdf
Rio Treaties Post Some Success http://www.worldwatch.org/fef/vs02treaties.pdf

Reading the Weathervane: Climate Policy from Rio to Johannesburg.
The world is on the brink of bringing into force one of the most far-reaching environmental treaties of all time, the Kyoto Protocol. And even without the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, the United States, on board, signatories of the Protocol are setting the stage for a new generation of policymaking worldwide, reports a new study-the first ten-year review of global climate policy since the Rio Earth Summit.  http://www.worldwatch.org/alerts/020801.html