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 that is 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 rapid destruction of the
atmosphere. 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 Change . The original
draft for the Kyoto Protocol took place at United
Nations Headquarters in New York (May 9, 1992)
(The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change, 2004). Even though the protocol has received
substantial support from over 150 countries in
1993, it will be enforced in 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 CFCs (Kyoto protocol to the United Nations,
2004). 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’ (Kyoto protocol
to the United Nations, 2004).
‘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. 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, there are business organizations
that oppose the Kyoto Protocol because it is misleading
and will take the US of the developmental track
they have recently been on.
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.
However, there are also organizations that oppose
the United States signing the Kyoto Protocol.
One particular organization is the national Association
of Manufacturers (NAM), which has operated in
favor of the US economy since 1895 and has managed
to secure business conditions for companies in
the US (Edwards, 2000).
NAM supports the progress that America has had
economically and believes that this prosperity
is in sync with health and protection of the environment.
However, they hold that signing the Kyoto Protocol
is a mistake because it is flawed because of the
fact that it does not encompass developing countries.
They argue that this automatically means that
the US and other developed countries will take
the load for the developing countries. The severity
of the damage that signing the Kyoto Protocol
will have, includes a damaged US economy. They
further believe that this damage would be cause
without even achieving any improvements in the
environment condition (Edwards, 2000).
In addition to this, NAM urges Congress to ignore
the Kyoto Protocol and begin working on environmental
policies that would suit the country better. In
view of the opposition that the Kyoto Protocol
has faced from those who favor maintaining economic
growth in the US, it is unlikely that America
would sign it.
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