The Russian government approved the Kyoto Protocol on Thursday, giving decisive support to the long-delayed climate change treaty that should allow it to come into force worldwide. President Vladimir Putin's cabinet decided to send the 1997 U.N. pact to the State Duma lower house, dominated by Kremlin supporters, for ratification. Opponents maintained it would harm the economy and do little to protect the environment. Victorious backers of Kyoto, which orders cuts in greenhouse gas emissions to slow global warming, made clear they believed it would have no effect on the environment or the economy and that the decision was politically motivated. The European Union hailed Moscow's decision and seized the moment to urge Washington, whose rejection of the pact in 2001 left it dependent on Russia's approval, to rethink its position. "The fate of the Kyoto protocol depends on Russia. If we ... rejected ratification, we would become the ones to blame (for its failure)," Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov told the cabinet meeting. Russia, which accounts for 17 percent of world emissions, has held the key to Kyoto's success since the U.S. pullout. --More 2230 Local Time 1930 GMT
