Stalling on Kyoto
The week's news at a glance.
Moscow
Russia hasn’t yet decided whether to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, which limits greenhouse-gas emissions, President Vladimir Putin said this week. Putin’s announcement was a blow to environmentalists who were gathered in Moscow for the U.N. World Climate Change Conference, because the Kyoto treaty won’t go into effect unless it’s ratified by countries that account for 55 percent of global emissions. Since the world’s largest polluter, the U.S., has refused to sign on, Russia’s ratification is needed to preserve the landmark environmental accord. Russia is stalling, though, because it produces less pollution than the treaty allows, and it wants guarantees that it can sell its extra “pollution credits.” Putin also offended conference attendees by joking that global warming might be good for Russia. “We would spend less on warm coats,” he said, “and grain harvests would be up.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Today's political cartoons - May 20, 2024
Cartoons Monday's cartoons - flags flipped, Diddy dunked, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Diddy admits to beating girlfriend after video
Speed Read Though he previously denied allegations of abuse, Combs apologized for abusing Cassie Ventura following the release of new CCTV footage
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden delivers Morehouse graduation speech
Speed Read It was the president's first time addressing a college campus since the breakout of Gaza war protests
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published