Liberal Democrats welcome Russian support for Kyoto

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 30th Sep 2004

Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament have welcomed an announcement that the Russian government has approved the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.

Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, Liberal Democrat MEP for London, said:

"The structure needed to tackle climate change is now being put into place. It may be ungainly and not yet very impressive but the foundations will support major improvements in years to come.

"This is a real triumph for EU diplomacy. Europe seized the baton when it was dropped by the USA and has set the pace ever since. Behind the scenes negotiations with Russia over world trade matters have secured a result which many predicted was impossible.

"We are a long way even from slowing the emissions of greenhouse warming gases across the world, but at last the plans are taking shape and the prospect of progress is coming into sight," she added.