I believe if your going to discuss such topics, maybe a good thing would be to explain to everyone exactly what global warming is, because most people don't really know what it is, and often confuse it with the the ozone layer issues, which global warming itself has nothing to do with. So, here are some facts so people understand what it is, and that ignorance is no longer acceptable:
Carbon dioxide and other gases warm the surface of the planet naturally by trapping solar heat in the atmosphere. This is a good thing because it keeps our planet habitable. However, by burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas, and oil, and clearing forests we have dramatically increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere and temperatures are rising. The vast majority of scientists agree that global warming is real, it’s already happening, and that it is the result of our activities and not a natural occurrence. The evidence is overwhelming and undeniable.
We’re already seeing changes. Glaciers are melting, plants and animals are being forced from their habitats, and the number of severe storms and droughts is increasing.
- The number of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes has almost doubled in the last 30 years.
- Malaria has spread to higher altitudes in places like the Colombian Andes, 7,000 feet above sea level.
- The flow of ice from glaciers in Greenland has more than doubled over the past decade.
- At least 279 species of plants and animals are already responding to global warming, moving closer to the poles.
- If the warming continues, we can expect catastrophic consequences.
- Deaths from global warming will double in just 25 years—to 300,000 people a year.
- Global sea levels could rise by more than 20 feet with the loss of shelf ice in Greenland and Antarctica, devastating coastal areas worldwide.
- Heat waves will be more frequent and more intense.
- Droughts and wildfires will occur more often.
- The Arctic Ocean could be ice free in summer by 2050.
- More than a million species worldwide could be driven to extinction by 2050.
Now, why does Al Gore himself push this so far at the USA? The reason why is because the USA is the worlds largest contributor by far of Co2 emissions, to be more precise, more than 1/3 of the worlds contributor actually too the problem. The USA does not have the largest population either, far far from it. China has near 1.3 billion people, the USA around 330 million, and China's Co2 emissions are much less than the USA's. This is why the USA as a country must take a stand, and the population and politicians who are merely being ignorant to the issue, must come to understand that these exact ignorant people will likely be dead very soon as a result of their ignorance. Just look at the quote above, the earth is retaliating against us all. If you haven't watched the documentary that Al Gore has done, "The Inconvenient Truth" then I suggest you get off your ignorant backside, go to your local video store, rent it, and watch it. Learn from it and take in what the problems are. A person who turns around and says afterwards, "Well, me changing nothing isn't going to affect much, so I will just keep being ignorant and doing what I'm doing" is not good enough. The US population seem to be doing exactly this, and instead if the US population got serious with this, many of the issue would cease as the largest contributor to the problem.
If you want my opinion, Al Gore merely confirmed and he even stated in that documentary actually, that it confirmed what all other countries already perceive of the USA as a country looking in at it, totally ignorant and disguisted with it. If the population doesn't change, each and every person putting in their bit, doing their bit, telling their friends and picking them up on ignorance, then it won't change and the catastrophe's in the US are only going to get worse. What are other countries going to do to help? Likely nothing, and leave the US to fend for itself because of ignorance.
It is common day practice in Australia, has been for a long time now, that people recycle just about everything, to keep down the damaging effects of what we do to our country and the earth as a whole. Many other countries are the same, and have been for a very long time now. Some countries just remain ignorant though, and so does their populous.
The KYOTO Treaty
There is one treaty, and representatives of the world met six times to discuss and negotiate terms of the Kyoto Protocol between 1997 and 2006. In 1997, the Kyoto Treaty asked all signatories to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2 percent in 10 years. The objective was short-sighted. That objective only dealt with reducing current and future emission levels. It offered no solutions for the gases that are already in the atmosphere
and will continue to be a problem for the next century or so. There are six countries ratified within the treaty, most are signatories of the treaty, meaning they will comply with it. There are very few populated countries that are not signatories of this treaty, and would make little to no real impact on the problem as such.
United States
The treaty called for 55% global reduction of carbon dioxide, based on 1990 levels.
- The United States is responsible for more than one-third (36%) of the entire world’s CO2 emissions – far more than any other country.
- As one of the original signatories of the Kyoto treaty, the United States agreed to reduce emissions by 6% from its 1990 levels.
- In 2001 President George W. Bush refused to ratify the treaty, citing these reasons:
- The US economy could suffer an estimated $400 billion in losses as a result of emissions restrictions on industry and transportation, and the US could lose almost 5 million jobs.
- Many developing nations that have extremely high emissions are not bound by the emissions limits set in the treaty.
- Since pulling out of the treaty, U.S. emissions have increased 15% above 1990 levels—21% above our initial objective.
- However, several recent events may foreshadow a change in the US position:
- America’s unique political structure gives each of the 50 states the autonomy to legislate Kyoto-like reforms on their own. Environmental leaders in some states are already promoting legislation that supports the objectives of the Kyoto Treaty.
- The California Air Resources Board has set tough emissions standards and is well known for its strict emissions regulations.
- The Chicago Climate Exchange is a group of North American municipalities, companies and organizations that have agreed to reduce their emissions over the next several years.
- Massachusetts, New York, and New Hampshire are creating emission reduction and trading systems.
- The recent 2006 elections have placed many in office who are sympathetic to environmental and global warming issues. This may lead to revisions in the US position on Kyoto.
European Union
- The European Union (EU) became a strong proponent of the treaty and has insisted that every provision be enforced.
- Many European countries were offended by the US rejection of the treaty. This may have motivated them to ratify the treaty in spite of its flaws and their own differences.
- Although other nations have been willing to make necessary changes and, in some cases, forgive nations that failed to meet standards, the EU has opposed any such compromise.
- The EU was initially hesitant about giving credits for maintaining forests which store carbon in what are termed “carbon sinks.”
- Despite its strong statements of commitment to the ideals of the treaty, the EU greenhouse gas emissions are only 2.9% lower than 1990 levels.
China
- In 2004, just two years after ratifying the Kyoto Protocol, China backed up its commitment by announcing plans to generate 10% of its power from renewable sources by 2010.
- There are still a number of concerns about China’s dedication to the ideals of the Kyoto Protocol.
- China’s status as a developing country even though it has the world’s largest population and a rapidly expanding economy.
- Developing country status exempts China from mandatory emission reduction objectives.
- The exemption is a problem for China as it is the world’s largest coal producer. Its oil consumption has doubled in 20 years.
- China does not show signs of complying with any requests for reductions in GHG emissions.
- China is using a combination of CDM (Clean Development Mechanism) and CER (Certified Emissions Reductions) benefits to enlist foreign support for economic development projects, to promote its own contribution to global climate change, and to help reduce of acid rain.
Russia
- Russia’s support was a critical factor in the acceptance of Kyoto and the targeted 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
- However, subsequent developments have raised questions about Russia’s motives.
- Some suspect that Russia used its support of Kyoto as leverage to open the door to membership in the WTO.
- Since Russia’s industrial output has dropped significantly since 1990, it now could gain billions of dollars through emissions trading.
- Emissions trading allows Russia to sell its unused emissions to other signatory countries that emit more than the protocol allows.
- Some feel that this practice defeats the purpose of setting GHG limits.
Japan
- Even though it is a leading member of the Kyoto Protocol, Japan was initially reluctant to ratify the treaty when the United States refused to sign.
- Its ratification in June 2002 was important because:
- Japan accounts for 8% of global GHG emissions.
- Japan promised to reduce emissions by 6% of the published 1990 levels.
- Unfortunately, by 2002 Japan’s GHG emissions had actually increased by 11% over its 1990 levels.
- This setback has not deterred Japan from advocating clean air technology or from manufacturing cars with hybrid technology.
India
- India ratified the treaty in 2002 because its representatives recognized the impact that its population (1 billion) has on global warming.
- Like China, India gained developing nation status and thus avoided reduction quotas.
- India has only submitted one emissions report (in 1994). The data from that year showed a 50% increase in emissions.
- India’s prime minister maintains that per-capita emission rates of developing countries are a fraction of those of developed nations.
Additional Thoughts
- The responses and actions of India and China demonstrate that developing nation status will need to be addressed in the future. Their actions also lend some credence to the US rationale for not signing the treaty.
- No matter how dedicated the Kyoto supporters are, there is no quick-fix solution to climate change. Carbon dioxide that is in the atmosphere will be there for several generations.
- It will take a long-term, global effort and massive changes in energy usage to undo the damage.
- The Kyoto Protocol is not the ultimate solution. It is a necessary first step in that process.
Conclusion
All countries must be taking this seriously, otherwise none of our children are going to make it far in life, likely killed by what the earth throws back our way for abusing it in the first place. Will that be a bad thing to help balance the earth? Well, if your looking beyond your children, most likely not, because it would merely take out a lot of the worlds population and stop advancement in its tracks, thus allowing the earth to recuperate somewhat and balance its systems back out once again. Maybe, just maybe, after all these events occur, as they have already begun around the world killing thousands and hundreds of thousands at one time, the world might stop doing things and approach the future with more open mindness, not ignorance.
