the Kyoto Protocol is in trouble. Russia may not ratify it. And even if it does, it's not going to do so anytime soon. That was the message, loud and clear, from the Russian president Vladimir Putin and his aides at the recent World Climate Change Conference held in Moscow, Russia, recently.

Russia's decision to ratify the treaty seems inextricably linked to its politico-economic relationship with the European Union (eu). Bilateral issues, such as the creation of a common economic area and the eu's call for Russia to correct its artificially low energy prices, are sticky matters. Enough, to apparently dissuade Russia. What is not clear is whether Russia intends to go the way of the us and Australia. Unlike Russia, the two are major polluters, and have already abandoned the protocol. It is also adequately clear they aren't even remotely interested in ratifying it in future.

As the ping-pong over the protocol continues, climate change-related disasters continue to destroy the lives of the world's most vulnerable communities