From correspondents in RiyadhSAUDI Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, gave its approval today to the Kyoto protocol which aims to stem global warming, the official Saudi Press Agency said.
It said the decision was taken by ministers at a weekly cabinet meeting and a royal decree was being prepared to formally endorse the step.
As a developing country, Saudi Arabia would not be subject to emissions cuts under Kyoto, a requirement only binding 30 industrialised nations.
Some 135 nations have formally given their support to the pact.
Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi, speaking in Argentina last week, said his country hoped to sign the protocol, but expected to lose billions of dollars in oil sales as developed nations implemented the pact.
"By the year 2010, Saudi Arabia will lose at least $US19 billion ($24.91 billion) a year as a result of the policies the industrialised nations will adopt to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions," he told a UN climate change conference.
The oil giant, which sits on the world's biggest reserves of crude, expected to lose even more money after 2012 as the Kyoto protocol's requirements grew stiffer, he said.
Along with the United States and Australia, Saudi Arabia has been accused by environmentalists of resisting global climate change efforts. The OPEC leader is accused of blocking talks to create a new fund to help poor nations adapt to global warming by demanding compensation for oil export losses.
Saudi Arabia has called for research to improve technology to recover greenhouse gases at the point of production of fossil fuels, easing the impact of environmental measures on oil exporters.