Russia Signals Change of Course on Kyoto; NCPA Experts Say Decision Based on Economic Horse-Trading, Not Science 5/21/2004
From: Sean Tuffnell of the National Center for Policy Analysis, 800-859-1154 or stuffnell@ncpa.org DALLAS, May 21 -- In an apparent reversal, Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled today that Russia would speed up ratification of the Kyoto accord on global warming following an announcement by the European Union on Friday of its backing for Russia to join the World Trade Organization. Experts from the National Center for Policy Analysis' (NCPA) E-Team said that while this news is disappointing, it is certainly not surprising. "This just further confirms what we all knew; Kyoto is an economic treaty not an environmental treaty," said NCPA Senior Fellow H. Sterling Burnett. "Everyone is jockeying for an improved economic position and, if they really do ratify the protocol -- which is still far from certain -- Russia thinks that joining the WTO and getting some European development dollars is worth the costs." "The fact that the EU is simply buying-out relatively low- emission countries to join the protocol demonstrates that it's all about the economics, and not at all about preventing harmful climate change," added NCPA Adjunct Scholar Kenneth Green. "The Kyoto Protocol is raw political calculus: in a carbon-constrained world, the U.S. -- whose economy is structured on inexpensive, abundant energy -- becomes less competitive. That's what Europe wants, and what this is really all about." Green, who also directs the Centre for Studies in Risk, Regulation and Environment at Canada's Fraser Institute, notes that governments of countries with weaker judicial systems than the US face little consequence for ratifying, then failing to meet Kyoto targets. "They won't be held accountable either internally, or externally, beyond some haranguing from activist groups," said Green. "Putin's signature on the Kyoto Protocol, if he ever signs it, will be only a symbolic gesture. Russia isn't about to sacrifice economic growth for the sake of a piece of paper. On the other hand, Burnett suggests "Russia may get WTO membership and then decide still not to ratify the protocol citing 'new research' on the unacceptable costs of the treaty." ------ The NCPA is an internationally known nonprofit, nonpartisan research institute with offices in Dallas and Washington, D.C. that advocates private solutions to public policy problems. We depend on the contributions of individuals, corporations and foundations that share our mission. The NCPA accepts no government grants. |