The German parliament voted unanimously today to ratify the Kyoto climate treaty that will oblige the country to reduce by 2012 pollution blamed for global warming.
Environment Minister Mr Juergen Trittin praised the vote, telling parliament: "We are the leaders in this field and want to remain in the lead".
Ahead of a summit on sustainable energy in Johannesburg in September, EU environment ministers have pledged to ratify the treaty by the beginning of June.
The 15-member EU has led an offensive to persuade other industrialised countries such as Russia, Canada and Japan to ratify the treaty since US President Mr George W. Bush pulled out of Kyoto last year.
The treaty must be ratified by at least 55 countries representing 55 per cent of developed countries' carbon dioxide emissions to come into force.