Canadian PM Ratifies Kyoto Protocol

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, December 17, 2002

Canadian PM Ratifies Kyoto Protocol

Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien ratified the controversial Kyoto Protocol on Monday at a brief ceremony in his Parliament Hill office.

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Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien ratified the controversial Kyoto Protocol on Monday at a brief ceremony in his Parliament Hill office.

"We can feel very proud today," Chretien said after signing the document. The document, called the Instrument of Ratification,was then turned over to Environment Minister David Anderson, who will fly it to New York on Tuesday to present it to the United Nations.

"We believe in international institutions, we believed that we could play a positive role. This is very important for future generations," Chretien said.

The prime minister had been promising to ratify the Kyoto Protocol before Christmas. Last Tuesday, the House of Commons passed a motion with a vote of 195 to 77 to implement the document.

Under the accord, negotiated by more than 160 countries in 1997,Canada must cut its greenhouse gas emissions to 6 percent below the 1990 levels by 2008-2012. That level would require a cut of between 20 and 30 percent below current outputs.

Industry groups and the government of Canada's oil producing province of Alberta have argued that to do so will cost billions of dollars and thousands of jobs.

Stephen Harper, leader of Canada's major opposition party Canadian Alliance, also argued against ratification, saying Kyoto will lead to major problems in the energy sector.

"Things will have to change," Chretien said. "But climate change is extremely important and the people of Canada wanted us pass this."

The Kyoto Accord will take effect when it is ratified by countries who make up 55 percent of emissions covered by the treaty. More than 95 countries have ratified it so far.

It is reported that Russia is expected to ratify soon, which would give Kyoto the threshold it needs to take effect. The United States and Australia have both rejected ratification.

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