The protocol, agreed at a summit in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997, employs a complex weighting system for emission quotas and only comes into force if countries responsible for 55 percent of emissions ratify it.

Without the United States, by far the world's largest polluter, it needs to be endorsed by Russia, which accounts for 17 percent of emissions.

"I fully expect Russia to make a decision in the not too distant future, in other words probably within a year but we'll see," Anderson said.

Canada ratified the protocol late last year, despite opposition by the oil industry and resource-rich provinces, which argued it would curb growth and cost jobs.

As part of its Kyoto commitments, Canada is keen to use its big grain-growing industry to help reduce consumption of climate-changing fossil fuels.

Natural Resources Minister Herb Dhaliwal said yesterday the government will study auto-parts maker Delphi Corp.'s DPH.N recent innovations in Brazil that make more efficient use of ethanol, which is made from grains.

"We've allocated C$100 million ($73 million) to increase the use of ethanol, so certainly if there's new technology that can help us in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions through a more efficient use of ethanol, we'd be very interested," Dhaliwal said as he left Parliament.