MOSCOW , October 8 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – In a step seen as a push to the implementation of the UN global warming pact, Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent the Kyoto treaty to the Russian parliament for approval, imposing more isolation on the Bush administration environment polices.

Ending years of hesitation over the international treaty, Vladimir Putin Thursday, October 7, sent the Kyoto climate change treaty to the Duma lower house of parliament for ratification.

In December 1997 representatives from 160 signatory nations to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change had attended a meeting in Kyoto , Japan , and reached an agreement, called the Kyoto Protocol, to reduce global emissions by about 5.2% by 2012.

The declaration intended to build the “capacity” of developing countries to “adapt” to climate changes and cope with the challenges involved. This would need technology transfers from the developed countries for cleaner production and for coping with existing problems.

But the two biggest polluters of the planet, the US and Russia , remained the cause of worry. The United States, which contributes 36 percent of all greenhouse gases (GHGs) has opted out of the Kyoto Protocol since the Republican President George Bush entered the White House.

Russia , which is the second biggest polluter, with 16 percent of emissions, ended the fuss with its latest moves to ratify the Kyoto protocols.

Years of Hesitation

Russia has spent years hedging the bets of the global Kyoto climate change treaty, weighing its influences on the Russian economic policies.

“Responsibilities that this important multi-lateral treaty places on our country have serious consequences for Russia 's economic and social development,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Russian deputy Prime Minister said the Russian Duma lower house of parliament could vote the international treaty by the end of this month.

“Discussion could start in October and the ratification process could be concluded by the end of the year,” Agence France Presse (AFP) quoted Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov as saying.

The Russian official said the government would examine whether to engage in new round of emissions cuts in 2012.

“A lot will depend on the growth of the Russian economy,” said Zhukov.

“If you imagine that the economy grows at 9-10 percent a year and does not take steps for energy savings it could produce a situation when in 2010 we could be approaching the maximum quota limit set for Russia in the Kyoto Protocol.”

US Position

The Russian decision categorically runs counter to the position of the Bush administration which strongly opposes the UN global warming treaty.

“The United States ' position on the Kyoto Protocol has not changed,” US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said, commenting on the Russian move.

“We thought at this point it wasn't the right thing for the United States , but it's up to other nations to independently evaluate whether ratification is in their national interest.”

On the other hand, the Russian decision was welcomed by the international environment groups that saw in it further isolation of the US administration policies on environment affairs.

“As the Earth is battered by increasing storms, floods and droughts, President Putin has brought us to a pivotal point in human history today,” said Greenpeace Climate Campaigner, Steve Sawyer.

“The Bush administration is out in the cold and the rest of the world can move forward as one to start tackling climate change,” Sawyer added, according to AFP.

Last week, the Russian cabinet had decided to approve the international environmental protocols, a step welcomed by the European Union.

“We warmly welcome the decision,” the European Commissions spokesman Reijo Kemppinen said.