The Kyoto Protocol

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The Kyoto Protocol (complete text of the Treaty) is a treaty that many of the worlds developed nations drafted in 1997.   The idea was fairly simple.  Draft an agreement that would progressive reduce the amount of gases classified as "greenhouse" gases being emitted to the world's atmosphere.  Additional background information was addressed by the Lycos Network's Environment New Service:

Under the Protocol, agreed in Kyoto, Japan in 1997, 39 industrialized nations must cut emissions of six greenhouse gases to an average of 5.2 percent below 1990 levels by the period 2008-2012.

But the Protocol will not take effect until it is ratified by 55 percent of the nations emitting at least 55 percent of the greenhouse gases - carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride.

That has yet to happen because countries disagree on how they should be allowed to meet their targets, which while modest, are deemed an important first step toward reversing global warming and climate change.

Under the Protocol, the U.S. is supposed to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by seven percent. With four percent of the world's population, the country accounts for about 25 percent of the Earth's greenhouse gas emissions.

The reasons behind wanted to reduce the levels of these greenhouse gases are somewhat controversial.  Some scientist point to the average, overall global temperature (seen below):

The source of this information (NASA Goddard Institute of Space Studies) is considered very reliable by many.  Others may contend that measuring such a variable with the degree of accuracy shown here may be suspect.  If the temperature data shown above is accurate, then it's hard to argue that something is indeed changing in our atmosphere.  This is where the debate begin regarding the Kyoto Protocol.  Can this data be considered accurate?  To put the measurements into perspective, the graph shows a temperature rise of about one half a degree Celsius in the 100 year period from 1860 to 1960.  Any scientist will tell you that absolute accuracy does not exist in measure these types of variables.  So what is the percent error on these measurements?  The source of the information does not mention the percent error.   

Whether or not the temperature data presented above can be considered accurate is one of the points often debated regarding the Protocol.  Recently (2001), the President of the United States (Mr. George Bush) withdrew support of the United States for the Kyoto Protocol.  He cited the economic disadvantages that Protocols inflicts upon the country and the reliably of the measurements that led to the drafting of the Protocol.  The bottom line is again relatively simple.  It is less expensive for companies to construct and operate plants in countries that do not participate in the Kyoto Protocol than in those that do.  As you can imagine, the economic ramifications are quite large.  But, do we have a duty to try to reduce the levels of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere?  What if, in 50 years, we learn that the scientific data is indeed correct?

The Kyoto Protocol was certainly a good start at reversing a potentially dangerous trend in environmental responsibility in the industrial world.  Is President Bush correct in revising the way that the U.S. views the science behind the Treaty?  It's hard to argue that there are increasing amounts of greenhouse of gases being put into the atmosphere than there were 100 years ago, but was the Kyoto Protocol fair in that only some nations should bear the economic burden of decreasing these levels?

We'd like to hear your views on the subject.

By: Christopher Haslego, Owner and Chief Webmaster (read the author's Profile)
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