Kyoto Protocol

The Kyoto Protocol was adopted at the Conference of the Parties (COP 3) in Kyoto, Japan, on December 11, 1997. In February 16, 2005 the Kyoto Protocol entered into force and 183 Parties (countries) of the Convention ratified. The Kyoto Protocol sets a target for the 37 industrialized countries for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The six major greenhouse gasses are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur, hexafluoride, HFCs and PFCs. The target is to lower a 5% from 1990’s levels over a five year period; from 2008 – 2012. In addition the treaty also helps countries adapt to the new climate change with that it facilitates the development and deployment of techniques that can help control of climate change. The Kyoto Protocol also introduces the mechanism of carbon trading in which it will help countries meet their target on reduces their gasses emitted.

China is considered the second largest emission of carbon dioxide.

In the Kyoto Protocol treaty China is not affect by the regulations since it’s considered a developing country. China's Ministry feels that China is not obligated to do anything concerning with global warming except "demand" other to do it.

Through December 1 – 12, 2008, The Unites Nations are meeting in Poznan, Poland to discuss the Protocol and Climate Change situations. The meeting is setting a target to complete its finishing the touches on the Kyoto Protocol Adaptation Fund so it can start its project on 2009.



http://www.americaneconomicalert.org/view_art.asp?Prod_ID=1304

http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/items/2830.php

http://unfccc.int/press/news_room/items/2768.php

My Thoughts and Opinions

Since I began my research on Global Warming my knowledge on the subject has increased. Learning about how the real world feels and reacts towards the subject is scary. It’s hard to believe the truth about people’s actions and knowledge on Global Warming. The research that had a great impact on me was the one about a poll taken on Americans about certain issues and how they felt about it and in the poll there was an American who believed that dog litter was more important that climate change around the world. That is a mouth dropping response. Living in the top country that emits Carbon Dioxide it’s a great responsibility for me to start making changes in my life habits and help reduction on those emissions. Also help my country reduce their percentage on gas emissions.

When I found out that the United States was the only country who declined the Kyoto treaty it was a shock. Why would the country decline contributing pact to the world? The Kyoto Treaty is a contribution of money, perhaps the U.S government doesn’t have money to contribute due to the war in Iraq. I don’t know the exact reason why the U.S declined the treaty but I will certainly research it and post the information as well as more information relating to Global Warming.

United States Reject Kyoto Protocol

United States rejected/declined the first Kyoto Protocol in the early 2000’s. One of the reasons why the U.S. declined the treaty under the Bush Administration was because the administration opposed any international constraints on that will affect the economic growth. The reason for Bush Administration’s opposition was due the economic downfall the United States was beginning to face. But they also responded that they will come up with a different way to help reduce their emission percentage.

Republican Congress man Ron Paul, who also ran for the 2008 presidential election said "I strongly oppose the Kyoto treaty. Providing for a clean environment is an excellent goal, but the Kyoto treaty doesn't do that. " He believes that the Kyoto treaty is putting a burden on the United States which will which will cause the U.S. a problem. While in the other hand other third world countries like China aren't asked sign treaty but they as well produce a close a amount of emissions as the Unites State.

It also affects the country's economy in the way that there will more strict policies applied on corporations. Therefore corporations will leave the country and settle in a country that's not affect by the any strict policies; like third world countries.

Ron Paul also declares that he doesn't like the fact that the U.S. has been subsiding oil companies. "...We go to war to protect oil, so that we can buy more oil, and burn more oil. So I say our foreign policy contributes to global warming -- by subsidizing a policy that is deeply flawed. And that's why we're in the Middle East, to protect oil interests." says Ron Paul.

http://pesn.com/2007/11/05/9500456_RonPaul_on_GlobalWarming/

http://www.greenbang.com/1738/america-declines-to-sign-kyoto-protocol/

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5g_ccWXGQ5k1NesnErN2x4eX_CGwg

People Don't Care About Global Warming

"Most people don't feel that global warming will affect them - but they are wrong"

In South Africa about one third of the population believes that global warming will affect them. The other two thirds are more with issues such as HIV/AIDS, corruption and poverty. South Africa is in the top of the most emitting countries. Researcher Neil Higgs believes that if South Africa doesn’t start contributing to reduce global warming the issues they fear the most will keep increasing to a more severe point. South Africa doubled their CO2 emissions from 1980 to 2004 due to their abundance in coal.

“Americans Still Don't Care About Global Warming”

Even though there has been a lot of attention towards global warming most American don’t care and still keep their old habits as the previous years. Similar to South Africa, a little more than one third of American believes that drastic changes need to be taken to protect out planet. “If you give [people] a list of 25 or 30 issues and ask them to rank them in order of seriousness, climate change comes at the bottom or near the bottom...I remember one poll where it came under dog litter.” This is atrocious to know that some Americans consider dog litter more harming to our environment than climate change!

"Muslims Don't Care About the Environment"

A blog from a Muslim student inform us that most Muslims don't pay any attention to issues on global warming. They only care about the Muslims principles of life and their cultural customs.

http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/19/19718.html

http://www.bizcommunity.com/Image.aspx?cii=11671&i=19718&ct=1

http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2008/04/americans_still_dont_care_abou.asp

IS ANYONE HELPING THE WORLD?

The world is taking action on how to help reduce global warming. Countries in the seven continents are making changes on their countries habits. Governments from most countries that are helping reduce global warming are encouraging their countries not to depend on the fossil fuels that harm the environment.

• "The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The major feature of the Kyoto Protocol is that it sets binding targets for 37 industrialized countries and the European community for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions .These amount to an average of five per cent against 1990 levels over the five-year period 2008-2012."

The Kyoto Protoccol is a world pact to reduce green house emissions and other substances that harm our environment. As viewed in the map above you can see that the U.S. is the only nation that retreated from the pact.

In Europe, The European Commission is funding 50 million Euros to help poor nations fight against global warming. Also the UN is trying to get rich nations to provide money to poor nations. The reasons for so much funding is because the poor countries are the ones that are suffering the most with global warming climate change. The less developed countries are loosing crop and people due to climate change. They need help on learning how to adapt to the new climates. The UN's goal for money provided is $86 billion. That's a lot of money!

http://www.euractiv.com/en/climate-change/eu-help-poor-nations-fight-global-warming/article-166870

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/11/27/europe/climate.php

We Help the Production of Greenhouse Gasses?

Believe it or not there are many ways that we help provoke the production in the greenhouse gasses. All the vehicles, or any type of transportation that use fuels release gasses that are sent to the atmosphere and destroy the ozone layer. Many fossil fuels are used up by all the countries around the world, people demand for the fuels that are destroying the planet.

Example:

• Our country is in war because of oil and the demand for oil is horrible. People in this country learned to depend on it.


• In other countries oil is their main source of production for their increase in economy, so they produce it in the demand to increase their economy at the needs of others and destruction of their planet.
  

Oil/ petroleum isn't the only way gasses are released. The use chemical;pesticides; for farming and other things also give in for greenhouse gasses.

Industrialization has also been a factor for global warming. The growth of industrialization also grew the dangers that follow the great "inventions". Factories produce gasses while they are producing their products and the gasses are released to the environment. Not only polluting the air we breathe but also harming our atmosphere.

http://environment.about.com/od/globalwarming/a/greenhouse.htm

What is Global Warming?

• 

The Planet Is Heating Up—and Fast" says National Geographic. But we ask ourselves "What is causing the planet to heat up?", "How does the planet heat up and fast?"

We are the main cause for Planet Earth to heat-up, we are accustomed to the modern life which is made out of things that release "heat-trapping gasses". "Heat-trapping gasses", also known as Greenhouse Effect, discovered by Joseph Fourier, in 1824. The Greenhouse Effect is gasses such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and others. These gasses were first discovered as gasses that allowed the atmosphere to keep the Earth's climate livable.

As scientist kept researching on greenhouse gasses and discovered that release in abundance of those gasses have negative effects towards our planet in different ways.

• "First, sunlight shines onto the Earth's surface, where it is absorbed and then radiates back into the atmosphere as heat. In the atmosphere, “greenhouse” gases trap some of this heat, and the rest escapes into space. The more greenhouse gases are in the atmosphere, the more heat gets trapped."
  
  
  
  

We are the main purpose for the release of the gasses in abundance. Studies show that compared to the past centuries, we are the ones that cause the most releases and our level or release are greater than 164,000 years ago put together!!

http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-overview.html