The Kyoto protocolHi and welcome.. I'm sure you've heard about the "Kyoto protocol" on the news or you have read about it in the newspapers. So, here I'll try to explain you about what this protocol includes and what it means for the world.. What it is and How it all started...This protocol is an international agreement to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gasses world wide. In fact, it's still the only agreement for countries and governments with the purpose to do something on the climate change and the global warming problem.With the "Kyoto protocol", the more industrialized countries( Europe,Germany,Japan,Russia..) are forced to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gasses with 5,2 % comparing with the level of 1990 . This have to happen between 2008 and 2012. It all began in the early nineties,when scientists start notice the first signs of global warming, and about what they thought was the blame of co2 and other greenhouse gas emissions that came into the atmosphere. Then, when scientist came foreward with with the warning about the global warming issue and the consequences for the our planet. These scientist convinced the UN authorities to take precautions concerning greenhouse gasses and the influence it will going to have on our climate.
The result was that the first international environmental treaty has been produced at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, June 1992, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.. The treaty is intended to achieve "stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system". It took some time to develop the Kyoto protocol, because of the different nature that every county had. There were the industrialized countries ( Germany, the UK, the Netherlands..) and other much less industrialized countries ( Iceland,Norway,Australia..) Finaly,The Kyoto protocol entered into force on 16 February 2005. In short It comes to this..Every country has his own individual objective, defined and based on the emissions of greenhouse gasses by these countries in the past. Under Kyoto, industrialized countries agreed to reduce their collective GHG emissions by 5.2% compared to the year 1990. National limitations range from 8% reductions for the European Union , to 7% for the United States, 6% for Japan, and 0% for Russia. The treaty permitted GHG emission increases of 8% for Australia and 10% for Iceland. The protocol defined what and how countries could meet their emission limitation. They can do this by "emissions trading",the Clean Development Mechanism and Joint Implementation European companies can also go for in "Co2 emissions" trading. From their governments, they have the "right" for an certain amount of co2 emissions, defined by that government. A company can choose to invest in clean energy, and take measures to reduces co2 emissions, or they can buy on the co2 market. The companies that trying hard enough and doing better then they have to ( read producing less emissions then defined), then they can sell these to the "not so good students". Here a list all the Signed Countries to the Kyoto protocol .... Now, my personal note...
on the "Kyoto protocol" issue. Anyway, I find the protocol rather complicated, but undoubtedly it is an necessarily worldwide commitment and agreement that had to been taken. The pros are: At last the global warming problem has recognized and been handled worldwide. Every step taken in the right direction to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gasses is welcome. We'll never will regret this (although, perhaps some countries will regret it not to have joint)agreement. The cons: Like I said before, it's complicated. Not so good students can buy elsewhere. What means: If you have the money, you don't have to worried about the emissions ( or the economy). Just buy and everything OK. Then there's the financial crisis. The global warming problem will become second or third on the list of problems. Companies have other problems right now then to care about the global warming. And..who will be take countries and companies on the right track again, if they don't follow the rules anymore?
Until now, there aren't any problems about the agreement, but it's just a thought I had in mind. We'll see what the future brings. Hopefully, countries will continue to fight climate change and continue on the road they have turned.
The Webmaster
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