Two days ago, the Commission on Environment of the Turkish Grand National Assembly approved the Kyoto Protocol on Global Warming. The Kyoto Protocol, part of the International Framework Convention on Climate Change requires 36 developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, while 137 developing countries monitor and report their emissions.

The Turkish National Assembly is expected to approve Kyoto shortly, according to Turkey's Regional Environmental Center. This follows the Turkish cabinet's decision to support signing the protocol, reversing its earlier rejection.  The cabinet's action was based on the Environment minister's recommendation last Friday.

This week's decision from Turkey, after Australia's ratification of the treaty in December, leaves the United States increasingly isolated in its refusal to sign Kyoto.

Turkey's accession to the protocol may be a part of its concerted efforts to join the European Union. Seeking the economic and political benefits of belonging to the EU, Turkey has aligned many government policies with official EU positions. These changes have included the abolition of capital punishment, and increasing rights for its minority Kurdish population.

Joining Kyoto is mainly a symbolic move for Turkey at this point, as it will have no quantified emissions requirements until 2012. The best way for Turkey to show the world that this move is a serious policy change, and not simply a political maneuver, is to begin reducing greenhouse emissions immediately. p>

We hope to see Turkey bring to this week's international negotiations in Bonn,  a strong commitment to reducing Climate Change, and keeping CO2 levels between 350 and 450 ppm (You can click on either number to see some good arguments for each target.)Should we be glad Turkey has signed Kyoto? Yes. Is it enough? No.