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News from outside the European Union

Developing Countries, who have no qunatitative commitments under the Kyoto Protocol, have been the driving force behind entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol. Close to 80 of them have so far pledged their country's participation in the Protocol by ratifying, including large populations like China, India and Brazil (see official UNFCCC list ).

Countries from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) listed under Annex-I of the Framework Convention on Climate Change also count towards the ratification threshold, and for some time they were the only industrialised nations to start making the final step, with Romania and the Czech Republic (both 1.2%) ratifying in 2001. Others have followed suit since. Slovakia's parliament approved the Protocol on the 20th of March, and was included in the official UNFCCC list (pdf) of ratifications on the same date as the EU (31st May), adding 0.42% to the score. Bulgaria seemed to be lacking behind in its preparations for ratification for some time. However, its parliament adopted the country's participation in the Kyoto system on July 17th. The country added its share on the 15th of August, becoming the 81st Party. Hungary's ratification process was well underway, but delayed by elections in April 2002. Parliament then adopted ratification unanimously on 16th July. It became the 82 Party to the KP on 22nd of August, bringing the score to over 37%. Slovenia's parliament adopted ratification in late June and was officially listed as having joined on the 2nd of August. However, its ratification does not count towards the 55% threshold, despite the fact that it has taken up a reduction target under the KP due to a lack of compliance with reporting requirements.

The Polish government had also declared its intention to follow the EU for the June 2002 deadline, but the process was delayed. The government then intended to have ratified before the Earth Summit in Johannesburg in late August 2002. Polish NGOs sent a letter urging to speed up the process in June (Polish version of the letter in pdf here). Finally, on July 26th, the Polish parliament passed a ratification bill prepared by the government (news). During the WSSD in Johannesburg, the Polish President said in his speech: "I wish to inform you that a few days ago Poland ratified the Kyoto Protocol." (source). Despite these official steps and the public announcement, the instrument of ratification took a long time to be submitted to the United Nations. It was finally deposited at the 13th of December 2002.

In the Baltic States, Latvia has also finalised its process and the documents were sent to the UN in early July. It became the 75th Party to the Protocol. Estonia submitted its ratification instrument on the 14th of October 2002, completing the list of Annex-I countries from CEE that count towards the 55% criterion of Article 25 KP. Lithuania, just like SLovenia and the Ukraine, does not count for formal reasons related to its reporting requirements under the treaty. Lithuania is planning to ratify nevertheless, but will take al ittle longer and is unlikely to finish its process before the end of 2002.