05-06-02 The Japanese government submitted ratification documents for the 1997 Kyoto Protocol on curbing global warming to the United Nations, government officials said. The Kyoto Protocol requires industrialized countries to cut their greenhouse-gas emissions from 1990 levels by an average of 5. 2 % between 2008 and 2012.
The pact will enter into force 90 days after being ratified by 55 states -- representing 55 % of industrialized countries' carbon dioxide emissions in 1990. The procedures are to be included for the pact to be ratified in time for its enforcement during the World Summit on Sustainable Development scheduled for Johannesburg, South Africa, from August 26 to September 4.

Ratification by Russia and East European countries is essential to meet the target because the United States has withdrawn from the pact, but it is unclear when Russia will ratify the pact. Russia represents about 17 % of the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions in the world.
With Japan's ratification, the total number of countries that have ratified the pact stands at 74, representing nearly 40 % of the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions.