[JURIST] Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the Kyoto Protocol Friday, completing Russia's ratification of the treaty and giving the global warming accord enough signatures to come into force as early as next year. The treaty now has the backing of 126 countries, with the necessary 55 industrialized countries accounting for 55 percent of the world's greenhouse gases signing on. The treaty comes into effect 90 days after Russia submits its ratification to the UN. Read the full text [PDF] of the Kyoto Protocol. Complete ratification status is available here [PDF]. More on the treaty is available from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. CBC News has more.

Previously on JURIST's Paper Chase....

• Russia approves Kyoto climate change treaty
• Russia likely to ratify Kyoto climate change treaty, report says
• UN hopeful Russia will ratify Kyoto protocol