| Copyright (c) 2008 Mervyn Rees | | | | to one half of a degree annually. Unless other |
| I thought I would talk about some aspects | | | | modifications are made, Kyoto Protocol will be |
| affecting the production of biodiesel. | | | | ineffective at reducing global warming in a largely |
| The Kyoto Protocol goes by a number of aliases: | | | | measurable way. |
| The Kyoto Treaty, The Kyoto Accord, or The | | | | * Both the United States and Australia have not |
| Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework | | | | ratified the protocol because of concerns over |
| Convention on Climate Change. | | | | the economic ramifications resulting from |
| It does not stand alone but is actually an | | | | sweeping changes that need to be made by |
| amendment to a larger body of work by the | | | | industries. Other countries, like Canada, have |
| United Nations on climate change. The larger body | | | | ratified the protocol but with a lot of national |
| of work is a treaty on managing environmental | | | | controversy for the same reason. |
| change by reducing emissions of greenhouse | | | | * Credits earned from planting a 'Kyoto Protocol |
| gases. It came into being in 1992 at a summit in | | | | Forest' sound like a great idea, except that the |
| Rio De Janeiro, but since it is a treaty and does | | | | first 10 years of a new forest tend to produce |
| not hold countries accountable to make any | | | | more carbon dioxide than it reduces, because |
| changes, an amendment was added to it, called a | | | | new forests help to release carbon dioxide that is |
| protocol, to help nations take action in response | | | | locked in the ground. |
| to the treaty. The goal is to stabilize the amount | | | | * China, who is the second-largest greenhouse |
| and concentration of greenhouse gases in the | | | | gas emitter in the world, is exempt from ratifying |
| atmosphere. | | | | the Kyoto protocol or being bound to it because it |
| Since then, the Kyoto Protocol has eclipsed the | | | | does not belong to a specific class of countries: |
| treaty itself in terms of assumed effectiveness | | | | those who were producing excessive greenhouse |
| and controversy. Countries who choose to ratify | | | | gases during the growth in industry that the UN |
| the Kyoto Protocol are committing to the | | | | feels contributed to current concentrations. In |
| reduction of six greenhouse gas emissions | | | | fact, China's usage is on the rise, increasing 40% |
| including carbon monoxide, or developing | | | | between 1990 and 2003. |
| measures to deal with those commitments if | | | | * Because of the variety of credit-selling |
| they cannot fill them. | | | | opportunities as well as responsibilities to share |
| There were two conditions for the Kyoto | | | | knowledge with non-industrialized countries, some |
| Protocol to enter into force. The first condition | | | | people see the Kyoto Protocol as a global social |
| was that no fewer than 55 participants in the | | | | movement to spread wealth from the "have" |
| convention needed to ratify the protocol. This | | | | countries to the "have-not" countries instead of |
| was agreed on May 23, 2002 when Iceland | | | | effectively addressing climate change. |
| ratified the protocol. The second condition was | | | | * As well, the law of supply and demand suggests |
| that countries who participated in producing a | | | | that a reduction in fossil fuel usage by |
| leased 55% of the total carbon dioxide emissions | | | | industrialized nations will lead to a reduction in |
| for 1990 needed to ratify the protocol as well. | | | | overall prices for fossil fuels, allowing |
| Russia's ratification on November 18, 2004 met | | | | non-industrialized nations, who are not bound by |
| the second condition needed to put the Kyoto | | | | the Kyoto Protocol, to burn more fossil fuels at a |
| Protocol into force. Ninety days after the | | | | cheaper price without any restrictions. |
| conditions were met, on February 16th 2005, the | | | | * Lastly, critics say that the Kyoto Protocol only |
| Kyoto Protocol entered into force. | | | | addresses the problem with an immediate, |
| The United States and Australia have not ratified | | | | short-term solution. Critics suggest that the Kyoto |
| the Kyoto Protocol. In spite of that, 157 nations | | | | Protocol, or something like it, needs to address |
| have ratified the protocol, which represents 61% | | | | greater issues such as population explosion, which |
| of global greenhouse gas production. | | | | has a huge effect on global warming. |
| The legally binding protocol calls for countries to | | | | Who wins? |
| reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by an | | | | If the Kyoto Protocol is successful in reducing |
| average of 5.2%, compared to the emissions | | | | greenhouse gas emissions, we will all win with a |
| produced in 1990. While the average is 5.2%, | | | | reduction in global warming. But there are others |
| different countries have different targets to aim | | | | who will win in a different way: |
| for: Japan needs to reduce its emissions by 6%, | | | | * Kyoto Protocol measurements are based on |
| Australia by 8%, the US by 7%, and Iceland by | | | | emissions produced in 1990 and ratifying countries |
| 10%. The reduction needs to affect the following | | | | are measured against that number as a |
| greenhouse gases: | | | | benchmark. Russia, however, because of its |
| * Carbon dioxide * Methane * Nitrous oxide * | | | | collapse, will easily meet its 1990 number, and its |
| Sulphur hexafluoride * HFCs * PFCs | | | | benchmark is set at 0%. This means that it |
| Countries who exceed these targets earn | | | | should continuously generate credits which can be |
| "credits" that they can sell to other countries that | | | | purchased by other countries. This means that |
| are not yet able to meet those targets. Credits | | | | reactionary spending by other countries will push |
| are also earned by countries with large forested | | | | millions of dollars to Russia. |
| regions that turn carbon dioxide into oxygen. So | | | | * The Kyoto Protocol also requires industrialized |
| countries who can quickly exceed emissions | | | | nations to provide information and support to |
| standards or who can create Kyoto Protocol | | | | non-industrialized nations attempting to make leaps |
| forest areas have financial incentive to do so. | | | | and bounds in technology and power generation. |
| Cleaner, breathable air, a clearer sky, and a | | | | So countries like the United States will be |
| reduction in global warming are noble pursuits. So | | | | expected to provide assistance and support to |
| why has the Kyoto Protocol received so much | | | | countries like India and China who both have a lot |
| controversy and attention and not been ratified | | | | of people and are struggling to become |
| by everyone? | | | | industrialized nations. In both situations, by |
| Objections and criticisms | | | | supporting the Kyoto Protocol, they receive |
| There are a number of objections and criticisms | | | | financial assistance but have no parameters in |
| to the Kyoto Protocol. Here are some of them: | | | | which to operate once they do achieve |
| * By 2050, if the Kyoto Protocol is successful, the | | | | industrialization. |
| global warming trend will be reduced by one third | | | | |