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Benefits of the kyoto
protocol |
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The benefits of the Kyoto Protocol may not only lie in
the fact that emissions of dangerous greenhouse gases may be reduced.
Another positive spin on the Kyoto Protocol, is that it has provided
valuable lessons, and has created an enormous framework from which to
build upon for the future. The Kyoto agreement comes to an end in 2012,
at which time, member countries are supposed to have cut their carbon
dioxide emissions by 5.2% of 1990 levels. Despite all of the good work
that the international agreement was set out to do, it is to be
considered as nothing more than the first leg of a very long race to
get emissions levels where they need to be at, in order to benefit the
planet.
According to the world of science, the current rates for greenhouse gas
emission reductions fall a long way short of the 60% reduction that is
really needed to avoid some disastrous consequences. The greenhouse
gases which are doing the damage are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous
oxide, sulphur hexafluoride and two other groups of gases, namely
hydrofluorocarbons and perfluorocarbons. The are the most heavily
produced gases by industrialised nations, and the ones which are
directly responsible for the effects of global warming. The benefits of
the Kyoto Protocol are to stamp out as much
of these gases from every
day life as possible.
While measures can be implemented now to cut greenhouse emissions, the
benefits of the Kyoto Protocol is that measures can be learned, and
areas which need to be addressed further can easily be highlighted
because of the framework that has been laid down. The future will be
rewarded by what actions and what lessons are learnt in the now. One
area that needs work is the matter of the financial impact of
implementing green changes. By making sure that the cost and the end
benefit marry in some kind of ideal way, will help further reductions
of greenhouse emissions in the future. The economy and the environment
both need to work side by side for the greater good. The benefits of
the Kyoto Protocol are there to be analysed. Technologies grow and the
search for more efficient and cleaner energy sources goes on. These are
applications which have been derived from the need by countries to
reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The risk of climate change is there
right now, and will only be compounded if nothing is done to counteract
the measure. If no other benefit is taken from the Kyoto Protocol in
terms of emissions targets not being met, then at least there is the
practical knowledge in place of what did not work. This could be vital
to making the next stage of post Kyoto Protocol discussions a success.
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