In his speech, President Putin stressed the importance of the problems that will be discussed at the conference.
Noting the frequently expressed view in Russia that being a northern country it would only stand to benefit from a rise of temperature by 2–3 degrees, Mr Putin pointed out that one should also give thought to such phenomena as droughts and floods which Russia has increasingly been facing, and other environmental and socio-economic consequences of global warming.
President Putin also said that Russia would ratify the Kyoto Protocol proceeding from national interests, but only after the Government had thoroughly studied the issue.
The President called on experts to develop a universal international legal framework in the field of climate change. In his opinion, such legal norms must take into account the interests of each country, preclude the imposition of limits on economic growth and social development and envisage an effective mechanism for monitoring compliance with the decisions and agreements.
The Kyoto Protocol was signed by 159 countries in the Japanese city of Kyoto in 1997. Under the protocol, industrialised countries are to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average 5.2% in 2008–2012. About 100 countries have already ratified it.
The World Climate Change Conference in Moscow was attended by more than 2,000 people from over 80 countries.