Kyoto

As of right now the Kyoto Protocol does not have any true backing. There is no real enforcement to be heard of, and there is no structured plan to meet the goals set by the protocol. Kyoto wants to reduce emissions by 5.2% from 1990s levels.

We had a teleconference with Brenda Ekwurzel of the Union of Concerned Scientists. My question for her was as follows:
      President Bush doesn’t want to sign the
Kyoto protocol bc it didn’t give any true binding targets. If amendments were to be added to the Kyoto protocol to make decisions more concrete, and give timetables, do you think the
US would be more willing to sign it?

The United States doesn’t want to get involved in international dealings, because they like to keep independent and isolated. What the US needs to do is come up with a plan of its own to stop global warming and in fact try to reverse its effects. Even if the Kyoto Protocol were to be made more concrete it would be ineffective, and the US would more than likely not consider signing it.

Until next time, Jennifer.

Mrs. Ekwurzal talked about Kyoto as not the most powerful opportunity for reduction of ghg emissions. She also concluded that an international agreement should include all nations perticipation, but only in a way that it is fare for everybody.
As far as The Climate stewardship act and innovation suggested by Mr Mccain  is concerned she finds it realistic because the are some innovations, concerning nuclear energy and trading strategy for reduction. Still the protocol is under consideration and there is possibility of presidential vito.

Mr Guiliani states that he believes in the existance of global warming but there is always a question whether the reason is natural climate change or human intervention. Mr. Mccain is more concerned on the issue. He admitts that it’ s the government obligation to fix the problem with the global warming by reducing greenhouse gases. Still he considers not accepting the protocal the right thing because China and India as big emitters do neither. In the same time he states that in China and India get involved The USA may consider uniting with other nations in the fight agains ghg polution. “consider” is not a word that gives any decission it is a way to make the excuse more acceptable. China and India will probably not get involved and the USA knows that. So the condition of this countries not taking part exists The USA is free to say no to Kyoto.
But what Mr Mccain is doing in the country for reduction in ghg emissions is a serious step. The senator has came up with bill in 2003 called Climate stewardship act which suggested reduction by trading and using credits. The bill was not accepted by the senate. Mccain came with innovation in 2005 but it had the same success. The las innovation for 2007 is being discussed in the moment and it suggests that untill 2050 the emissions will reach 1/3 of the emissions level in 2000. More and more representatives are supporting the bill as well as different organisations.

Kyoto is a protocol created by the UN in order to decrease the greenhouse emissions from the countries and stabilize its content in the atmosphere. The protocol expires in 1012 and untill then the countries which had ratified it should reach a 5 % reduction of emissions of theis overal level in 1990. If not fulfilled the protocol suggests penalty for each ton above the 5% reduction. The protocol also separates the countries into Annex I and developig. Developing ones are not to fulful the agreement. This arises a problem. For instance The USA denies accepting the agreement for the reason that China and India do not  take part because are considered developing.

Dark green indicates countries that have signed and ratified the treaty, yellow indicates those that have signed and hope to ratify it, and red indicates those that have signed but not ratified it.

The Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an amendment to the international treaty on climate change, assigning mandatory emission limitations for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to the signatory nations.

The objective of the protocol is the “stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.”

As of December 2006, a total of 169 countries and other governmental entities have ratified the agreement. The United States was not among these countries. Under the Clinton administration, the agreement was signed but the Senate failed to ratify it. Under the Bush administration the agreement was “unsigned.” The primary objection to the Kyoto Protocol is economic. Bush dismissed Kyoto Protocol as too costly, describing it as “an unrealistic and ever-tightening straitjacket.”  Additionally, China and India would be exempt from the provisions, which is another point of contention for the United States.