§ Mr. JenkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Russian Government regarding its decision not to seek ratification of the Kyoto Protocol. [142624]
§ Mr. RammellPresident Putin stated at the World Conference on Climate Change in Moscow in early October that the Russian Government was still analysing the economic implications of ratifying the Kyoto Protocol. The statement made by President Putin's economic adviser on 2 December does not appear to be an official statement of policy, and we look forward to a decision from the Russian Government when it has completed its assessment of the Kyoto Protocol.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and my hon. Friend the Minister for Environment and Agri-Environment are attending the ninth Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Milan, where Parties will be putting the finishing touches on preparations for entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol. Ministerial colleagues will continue to press their Russian counterparts on the importance of Kyoto ratification.