It's Kyoto Time
Finally, the Kyoto Protocol goes into effect on February 16.
What is the Kyoto Protocol? It was adopted in late 1997 to address the problem of global warming by reducing the world's greenhouse gas emissions. It is considered a first step and is not expected to solve the world's climate change problems by the time its first commitment period ends in 2012. Kyoto sets out an agenda for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by roughly five per cent from 1990 levels over a five-year average between 2008 and 2012.
Depending on who one talks to, the Kyoto Protocol is either a) an expensive, bureaucratic solution to fix a problem that may not even exist ; or b) the last, best chance to save the world from the "time bomb" of global warming. Those are the extremes in what has become a polarizing debate that has engaged governments, consumers, environmental groups and industry all over the world for more than 20 years.
The problem the Kyoto Protocol is trying to address is climate change, and more specifically, the speed at which the earth is warming up. Whether Kyoto can accomplish this is very much a matter of debate.
What is the Kyoto Protocol? It was adopted in late 1997 to address the problem of global warming by reducing the world's greenhouse gas emissions. It is considered a first step and is not expected to solve the world's climate change problems by the time its first commitment period ends in 2012. Kyoto sets out an agenda for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by roughly five per cent from 1990 levels over a five-year average between 2008 and 2012.
Depending on who one talks to, the Kyoto Protocol is either a) an expensive, bureaucratic solution to fix a problem that may not even exist ; or b) the last, best chance to save the world from the "time bomb" of global warming. Those are the extremes in what has become a polarizing debate that has engaged governments, consumers, environmental groups and industry all over the world for more than 20 years.
The problem the Kyoto Protocol is trying to address is climate change, and more specifically, the speed at which the earth is warming up. Whether Kyoto can accomplish this is very much a matter of debate.
3 Comments. Add your comments!
Some background information on the Kyoto agreement:
All countries are not treated equally by Kyoto. Canada, for instance, has committed to chopping its greenhouse gas emissions by six per cent. The U.S. target was a seven per cent reduction. Russia's and New Zealand's emission levels are capped at their 1990 levels. Iceland can emit up to 10 per cent more greenhouse gases, Australia eight per cent more. Developing nations are not subject to any emissions reduction caps under Kyoto.
In 2001, one of the first acts of newly elected President George W. Bush was to formally withdraw the U.S. from Kyoto (Australia did the same). Bush said the U.S. would not ratify the treaty because it would damage the U.S. economy and major developing nations like China and India were not covered by its provisions.
Much of the criticism around the Kyoto Protocol is over political realities and the limitations of the treaty. Critics say a five per cent cut will accomplish little, especially with the United States not on board. Some Canadian critics say their economy will pay a heavy price for meeting their Kyoto commitments because they'll have to compete with an American economy that faces no such restrictions.
How are emission targets met? In several ways. The most obvious way is to actually reduce greenhouse gas emissions – more fuel-efficient cars, fewer coal-fired power plants. But Kyoto also allows for three other mechanisms.
Countries can buy emissions credits from countries that don't need them to stay below their emissions quotas. A country can also earn emissions credits through something called joint implementation, which allows a country to benefit by carrying out something like a reforestation project in another industrialized country or "economy in transition." There's also what's called a clean development mechanism that encourages investment in developing countries by promoting the transfer of environmentally-friendly technologies.
What happens if a country fails to reach its Kyoto emission target? The Kyoto Protocol contains measures to assess performance and progress. It also contains some penalties. Countries that fail to meet their emissions targets by the end of the first commitment period (2012) must make up the difference plus a penalty of 30 per cent in the second commitment period. Their ability to sell credits under emissions trading will also be suspended.
[Source: CBC.ca]
By Nathan, at 12:04 PM, February 15, 2005
Interestingly enough, the David Suzuki Foundation points out that studies show that adopting the Kyoto Protocol and a climate action plan would stimulate the hi-tech and construction industries, create jobs, reduce health-care costs from air pollution, and help protect our ecosystems.
Good points!
For more info, visit:
www.davidsuzuki.org/Climate_Change/Kyoto/
By Nathan, at 2:56 PM, February 15, 2005
This makes a lot of sense about the creating of jobs by following Kyoto.
By Scott, at 4:39 PM, February 21, 2005
Post a Comment
<< Home