ConsenCIS DotNet Home: New Orleans: Geography: ConsenCIS DotNet Home: Climate: Global Warming:

Global Warming Kyoto Protocol


   Topics
Global Warming Opinions Global Warming MechanismGlobal Average TemperatureGlobal Temperature PatternsGlobal Warming ImpactsGlobal Warming Kyoto ProtocolGlobal Warming QuestionsGlobal Warming What Actions
Kyoto Protocol
Kyoto Protocol
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.



  • Carbon dating : Atoms floating around high in the Earth's atmosphere are continuously bombarded by energetic radiation (even the occasional cosmic ray). This high energy bombardment of the atmosphere knocks a few neutrons loose. These neutrons zip around randomly until they are captured by other atoms in the atmosphere. If they happen to be picked up by a nitrogen atom the reaction produces one atom of carbon-14 and one atom of hydrogen. :: Continue reading...


  • Global Warming Impacts Global Warming Questions


    Created : 8/7/2006 8:05:34 AM Updated: 3/25/2007 3:54:52 PM

      f1 f3

    Web Application Byf3 ConsenCIS

     

    sitemap

    1042

     

    Notes regarding this page
    • Subnotes