The
Kyoto Protocol is a key part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
(Hey that helps a lot, but what is the Kyoto Protocol?)
The Kyoto Protocol is a treaty that calls for 39 countries to reduce their
greenhouse gas emissions to a target based on 1990 levels.
Failure to
comply would result in fines and further target reductions. The US
target would be 93% of 1990 levels.
Click here to read the Kyoto Protocol.
- Not all countries have targets. Notably China and India are not
limited. Exclusion of these two developing countries is the greatest
source of criticism of the Protocol in the US.
- 163
countries representing 65% of worldwide greenhouse emissions have
ratified the protocol so it is in effect since Feb 2005 and binding on
the countries that ratified it.
- The US and Australia have rejected ratification. Nearly every other major
country has ratified. Kazakhstan continues to debate ratification.
- The US Senate says it won't ratify as long as only some countries are included
- and if it will harm the US Economy (cost in the trillions)
- The Protocol provides for trading of emission credits among countries.
- Many scientists argue Kyoto is far too little as it will not reduce or even stabilize the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere
1996 CO2
emissions
| 1015 grams/yr |
|
US | 1,446 |
|
China | 917 |
|
Russia | 431 |
|
Japan | 318 |
|
India | 272 |
|
Germany | 235 |
|
UK | 152 |
|
Canada | 112 |
|
SKorea | 111 |
|
Italy | 110 |
|
Ukraine | 108 |
|
Total Worldwide | 6,000 |
Factoid: Atmospheric CO2 from fossil fuels is easy to recognize using Carbon
Dating techniques. Since the carbon has been isolated for millions of
years it contains no radioactive isotopes.