Russia will not ratify the Kyoto environmental pact because doing so would threaten its economic growth, Kremlin economic adviser Mr Andrei Illarionov said today.
But a UN official said Mr Illarionov's views were not an official rejection of the treaty, and environmentalists said Russia's industrial output had fallen so far that pollution limits set by the pact would have no impact on its recovery.
"In its current form, this protocol cannot be ratified," Mr Illarionov, who advises President Vladimir Putin on economic issues, told reporters.
The treaty aims to cut emissions of the gases responsible for global warming. Countries responsible for 55 per cent of emissions must ratify the pact for it to come into force but Washington has pulled out, leaving Russia with the casting vote.
"The Kyoto protocol places significant limitations on the economic growth of Russia," Mr Illarionov said after a meeting between Putin and European businessmen.
But the United Nations, which has gathered ministers and experts from around the world at a conference in Milan to discuss climate change, said the comments did not amount to an official rejection.
"This is a senior adviser to the president, it is not a formal rejection like we saw with America," said Mr Michael Williams, a UN climate talks spokesman. "We remain optimistic that . . . Russia will ratify."