Russia's Prime Minister told the Earth Summit yesterday that he expected Russia to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on global warming soon - but it remained unclear just what Moscow's timing would be.
China, the second-biggest polluter, also told world leaders in Johannesburg it had ratified it. As a developing country, Beijing's obligations under the pact are limited.
But under a complex weighting system for industrialised countries, Russia's ratification is vital if the accord is ever to take effect following the withdrawal from the deal last year by the US, the biggest polluter.
European Union leaders have been urging Moscow to ratify soon to get the 1997 treaty into effect and so release funds for poor nations that have been hit by climate change and need aid to build flood defences and take other measures.
Mr Mikhail Kasyanov told delegates: "Russia has signed the Kyoto Protocol and we are now preparing its ratification. We consider that ratification will take place in the very near future."
However, he seemed to suggest there was some doubt about whether Moscow would heed the urgings of EU leaders and ratify Kyoto this autumn, once parliament reconvenes. Asked whether the ratification could be completed this year, Mr Kasyanov replied: "Maybe this year".
The Norwegian Prime Minister, Mr Kjell Magne Bondevik, said after meeting Mr Kasyanov in Johannesburg: "I think that during this year all the formalities will take place [for Russian ratification\]."
President Vladimir Putin has said he is committed to the pact, and his supporters control parliament, the State Duma.
In Moscow, Mr Putin said Russia still intended to go along with the accord to curb the emission of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, which are blamed for warming the atmosphere.
"We are positive about this process and the aims of the Kyoto Protocol," Mr Putin said after meeting President Johannes Rau of Germany, one of the treaty's strongest backers and Moscow's biggest creditor and trade partner. - (Reuters)