OTTAWA (voa) – Prime Minister Jean Chretien has signed Canada’s ratification of the Kyoto global warming accord on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
His signature Monday in Ottawa puts the 1997 treaty much closer to international implementation. Another major emitter of man-made carbon dioxide, Russia, is expected to ratify the agreement soon.
Canadian officials say Canada’s signing and the anticipated ratification by Russia would mean Kyoto can finally take effect.
The treaty needs to be ratified by half of United Nations members, and by countries responsible for over 50 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. It calls on participating countries to reduce their emissions six percent below 1990 levels by 2012.
The Bush administration has refused to sign on, saying the plan is too costly.
President Bush says he wants an alternative plan that would offer voluntary incentives for industries to reduce emissions.
The United States is responsible for more than one-fourth of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Some scientists blame the emissions for global warming.
