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The kyoto protocol failed |
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The Kyoto Protocol
failed. That is a bold statement to make, seeing as how the time period
for cutting greenhouse emissions ends in 2012. The Kyoto Protocol was
an addendum to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change. Countries were free to become signatories to the Protocol, but
were under no obligation to make any changes in order to meet
guidelines. For the accord to come into effect, it had to be ratified
by countries making up 55% of the emission levels that were present in
1990. That was done, and as of January 2009, 183 parties had signed on
to the Kyoto Protocol. The United States, despite signing, declared
their intention not to ratify, despite being one of the largest
producers of carbon dioxide in the world. Several reasons were given,
from the then President George Bush denying the effects of global
warming, to the Protocol putting the American economy at risk, to
concerns over why developing countries were given a free pass by being
overlooked. This is part of why the Kyoto Protocol failed to secure the
help of the US and also fail to really bring about a forward thinking
coalition for the greater good of the planet, and not just of political
one up-manship. When countries like India and China get left out, |
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