MOSCOW — The Russian Cabinet gave its approval to the Kyoto Protocol on Thursday in the strongest sign yet that the treaty to fight global warming would win enough worldwide support to come into force.
The Duma, the lower house of parliament, has yet to give its backing and President Vladimir V. Putin his signature before Russia can ratify the treaty, but those actions are widely expected.
It is now "99% certain" that the Kyoto Protocol will come into effect, said Alexei O. Kokorin, coordinator of the World Wide Fund for Nature's climate change program in Russia. "Global society at last made a practical step to mitigate global warming," he said.
The treaty was designed to slow global warming by reducing air pollution, particularly the release of carbon dioxide, which many scientists believe creates a "greenhouse" effect. Nations that sign on are required to reduce their emissions of six key gases to 5.2% below 1990 levels by 2012.
The fate of the 1997 accord hangs on Moscow's decision. Although more than 120 countries have ratified the pact, Russia's support is needed to reach a key standard for it to take effect: approval by countries that accounted for at least 55% of global emissions in 1990.
The pact's requirements would not apply to the United States. The Bush administration pulled out of the agreement in 2001, citing potential harm to the American economy if companies were compelled to cut such emissions. However, the treaty could increase pressure on the U.S. to do more to control emissions.
In Washington, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Thursday that the administration had not changed its view on the treaty. But he noted that "it's up to other nations to independently evaluate whether ratification is in their national interests."
Boucher added that the U.S. was committed to taking action on climate change, through efforts aimed at reducing greenhouse gases by pursuing cleaner energy technologies and research on the problem.
Even supporters say the Kyoto Protocol is only a first step toward addressing the threat of global warming, with much greater efforts needed in future decades.
The U.S. was responsible for 36% of greenhouse gas emissions in 1990; its withdrawal meant that ratification by nearly all other industrial countries was required to put the treaty into effect. Japan and members of the European Union have all given their backing. Russia's share of 1990 global emissions was 17%.
