|
|
|
What is the Kyoto Protocol?
The Kyoto Protocol is an amendment to a United Nations treaty on global warming. Countries which follow this treaty have agreed to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions, as well as their emissions of five other greenhouse gasses. Greenhouse gasses contribute to the greenhouse effect by causing the atmosphere to warm the planet.
What are its goals?
The main goal of the Kyoto Protocol is to limit the amount of greenhouse gas released into the atmosphere. Every country has an individual limit; countries must return to the levels of emissions that they produced in 1990. Overall, worldwide greenhouse gas emissions should decrease by about 1%. Participating countries must meet requirements sometime between 2008 and 2012.
What hasn't the U.S. ratified it?
The Senate:
In 1997, the U.S. Senate stated that the U.S. should not sign any protocol:
(1) unless it included both industrialized and developing nations
(2) that harms the U.S. economy
President Bush's Comments about the Kyoto Protocol
- Although human activity is, in part, responsible for global warming, we need to do further research about nature's role in global warming and the changes that would take place regardless of human activity.
- The targets created by the Kyoto Protocol are arbitrary and not based on scientific fact.
- Developing countries also need to be involved in the initiative, as many of them also emit large amounts of greenhouse gasses.
- The Protocol would negatively affect the U.S. by causing layoffs and increasing the price of goods.
Congress Curbing Climate Change: What is the Climate Stewardship Act?
The Climate Stewardship Act is one way that members of Congress have demonstrated their determination in preventing global warming. The Act was reintroduced to Congress in February 2005 by Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Joe Lieberman (D-CT). It has not yet been voted on, but it is possible that the vote will take place during this session of Congress (the109th).
The Climate Stewardship Act is a market-based bill that calls for a reduction in the level of heat-trapping gasses back to their 2000 level by the year 2010. The bill includes the same 6 heat-trapping gasses as the Kyoto Protocol. The Climate Stewardship Act only applies to major emitters, rather than small businesses or individual people.
Speak Up!
|
|
|
