Posted on 10-3-2002
U.K.
To Ratify Kyoto Protocol
From UN Wire (Photo shows Margaret Beckett)
The United Kingdom will ratify the Kyoto Protocol in a matter
of weeks, it
announced yesterday, following Monday's European Union endorsement
of the
agreement. "The protocol will be before Parliament for the next
21 sitting
days," Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett said. "At the
end of this
period ... the foreign secretary will sign the U.K.'s instrument
of
ratification" (Mike Peacock, Reuters, Planet Ark, March 8).
Beckett also reiterated criticism of the United States for refusing
to
ratify the treaty, under which countries agree to reduce emissions
of the
greenhouse gases scientists hold responsible for global warming.
"We
continue to believe that (the protocol) presents the only workable
option
for the international community to take serious action and we
urge other
countries to ratify as soon as possible including the U.S. who
we would
like back on board in the future," Beckett said (Reuters, Planet
Ark, March
8).
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