Thesis:
The Kyoto Protocol is an agreement that encompasses
all those industrial countries that are ready
to commit themselves to reducing emission of gases;
the treaty sets limits on gas emissions that will
help countries protect the earth’s atmosphere.
In contemporary times, there are
several ways in which the human race is at risk.
One of these risks includes the rising global
temperature greatly impacted by gases released
into the atmosphere. An organized effort is the
most appropriate means to curtain a situation
that endangers the human race.
In view of the dangers posed by
global warming, a treaty known as the Kyoto Protocol
has been designed to help lower emission of dangerous
gases that are responsible for global warming
and atmospheric deterioration. It is an amendment
of the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC), which was an original
treaty on global warming.
The Kyoto Protocol reaffirms major
portions of the UNFCCC, to which several industrialized
countries have agreed. Countries that agree to
the Protocol have committed themselves to reduce
emission of dangerous gases or engage in emissions
trading if they maintain or increase emissions
of these gases (Conference of the Parties, 1997).
The formal name of the protocol
briefly described above is Kyoto Protocol to the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change1 . This agreement took place in Kyoto Japan
(December 1997). It was here that the treaty was
open for signature from March 16, 1998, to March
15, 1999.
The text for the Kyoto Protocol
was drafted at United Nations Headquarters in
New York (May 9, 1992) (The United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change, 2004). Up till June,
1993, the Protocol received signatures from 166
countries, and the text remained valid from March
21, 1994. However, the agreement will not be enforced
until February 16, 2005.
When enforced, the Kyoto Protocol
will limit the emission of gases into the atmosphere.
It basically takes into account all the industrialized
nations that produce large amounts of Carbon Dioxide,
methane, nitrous oxide, Sulphur hexafluoride,
HFCs, and PFC (Grubb, 1998, 142-143). There are
particular levels set for each industrialized
country encompassed by the Protocol, and they
are committed to meeting their targets. In addition
to this, if a country can control its emission
of gasses below the limit provided, it can stand
to gain environmentally by maintaining a cleaner
atmosphere, and also gain economically under ‘Emissions
Trading’ (Grubb, 1998, 142-143).
‘Emissions trading’
refers to the margin that a country may sell to
another to another country in the treaty. This
can only take place in a situation where a country
in the treaty has a lower emissions margin than
the margin allowed by the protocol; the difference
between the emissions and level and the limit
can be sold (Grubb, 1998, 142-143). Russia is
an example of a country within the treaty that
can afford to conduct an emissions trade (Kyoto
Protocol gets the green light, 2004).
Aside from the national level support
or opposition of the Kyoto Protocol, it is apparent
that there are pressure groups that have set to
work on federal authorities. In the US, the North-Eastern
States have taken a stance on the Global Warming
Issue. They believe that the emission of the gases,
as defined by the Kyoto Protocol, is responsible
for the atmospheric condition in the country.
Since November 15, 2004, up to nine US states
have become involved in what is now known as the
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) 2.
In view of the current conditions
of pollution in several areas of the United States,
there are apparently many who are aware of this
opportunity (signing the Kyoto Protocol) to safeguard
the future of the country environmentally speaking.
There are people who are aware of the growth that
America has experienced, and along with this growth
there certainly has been an elevation of pollutants
being produced.
The nine North east states are
aware of the increase in pollution over the last
fifty years, as they have observed America growth
in population as well as economy. This means that
there is naturally more activity on the emissions
level tat has to be curtailed or made safer. Undoubtedly,
this would require an immense effort from the
people as well technological assistance, but it
is achievable if Americans want a safer tomorrow.
In order to ensure that America
does not over look its responsibilities towards
its citizens, concerned authorities along with
citizens have joined hands in Maine, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut,
New York, New Jersey, and Delaware, to make the
government take not of their valuable opinion
(Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, 2004). It
must also be noted that in addition to this collective
state approach there are also so others such as
the pressure group organized by students under
the name of Kyoto Now!
References:
Conference of the Parties, Kyoto
Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change, Conference of the Parties,
Third Session, Kyoto, 1-10 December 1997.
English Conference of the Parties Third session
Kyoto, 1-10 December 1997. http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/1997/global.warming/stories/treaty/
Grubb, M., 'International Emissions Trading under
the Kyoto Protocol: Core issues in Implementation',
RECIEL, volume 7, issue 2, pp 142-143, 1998.
Kyoto Protocol gets the green light, NewScientist.com
news service. 18 November 2004. http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99996678
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change. Text of the Convention, 2004.
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