Preview

Kyoto Protocol

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
688 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Kyoto Protocol
Pros and Cons of Kyoto Protocol

Kyoto Protocol is an attempt of global community to encourage industrialized countries to lower on emissions of GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions was signed in 1997 and till date there are multiple debates going on whether or not it was a step to foster a global cooperation to address current environmental issues or just a governmental endeavor to take under control a free market spot.

First, the protocol is seen as a starting point for effective collaboration aiming to achieve global good and face climate change (Hamish McRae). The journalist is sure that the deal has shown the commitment of countries to sacrifice their short-term needs at micro level in order to follow the “long-term global environmental aims”. In contrast, Kyoto Protocol is poorly designed and does not have any clear influences in perspective “unlike the Montreal Protocol, which had a clear objective and clear benefits”, notes the author. All things considered can help to draw a conclusion that the Protocol is rather controversial in its future perspectives but is a significant leap of “a wider global process of conservation” (Hamish McRae).

Second, carbon is traded like any other commodity: the treaty expects the countries that do not exceed their carbon emissions limits to sell the surplus to the countries which due to their industrial needs are beyond the allocated quotas. On the other hand, “carbon market” has plenty of opponents ready to state that even though the carbon trading is being constantly advertized as a key solution to coping with climate change, it is just a small part of the dilemma. Tamra Gilbertson and Oscar Reyes are sure that “today’s climate challenges require a paradigm shift in our thinking and approaches” (3). The Carbon Trade Watch researchers state that the adoption of proposed schema was a way to “make climate problems fit market solutions” (9). In any case, despite its bright perspectives in reality Kyoto



Cited: Doyle, Alyster and Barbara Lewis. UN climate conference throws Kyoto Protocol a lifeline. http://www.theglobeandmail.com. 08 Dec 2012. Web. 20 Jan 2013 Gilbertson, Tamra and Oscar Reyes. “Carbon Trading - How it works and why it fails”. Critical Currents no.7 (2009): 3-9. http://www.tni.org/. Web. Jan 20 2013 Harrabin, Roger. UN climate talks extend Kyoto Protocol, promise compensation. http://www.bbc.co.uk. 08 Dec 2012. Web. 20 Jan 2013 McRae, Hamish. Can Kyoto really save the world? http://www.independent.co.uk. 16 Feb 2005. Web. 20 Jan 2013

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In the late eighties and early nineties, the international community became increasingly concerned by the problem of climate change and realized that it is indeed an acute global issue. Amidst such an atmosphere, the text of an international treaty, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, and the Convention entered into force in 1994. However, by 1995 the countries realized that the provisions on emission reductions in the Convention were not adequate . The Kyoto Protocol, adopted in Kyoto, Japan, on 11 December 1997, was a result of the ensuing negotiations to make the global response to climate change more effective. The UNFCCC defines the Kyoto Protocol…

    • 558 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “A Climate Repair Manual” by Gary Stix is about the debate of global warming. The ramifications of not initiating programs to stem the problem is “the most scientific and technical challenge that humanity has ever faced”. Stix addresses the issue of international governments needing to work together to attain “restructuring of the world’s energy economy”. Stix goes on to give various possible low-carbon energy alternatives, such as “biofuels, solar, hydrogen, and nuclear” and that inaction far out weighs “the feared economic damage” that nations face.…

    • 409 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Lack Of Leadership In Canada

    • 2694 Words
    • 11 Pages

    Suzuki, David. "Canada and the Kyoto Protocol." David Suzuki Foundation. David Suzuki Foundation, n.d. Web. 04 May 2013.…

    • 2694 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The Governments of Australian and Hong Kong are paying attention to climate change. The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement connected to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). According to UNFCCC (2009), Australia has joined the Kyoto Protocol but Hong Kong has not. “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.” (UNFCCC 2009) “Human activities cause an increase in greenhouse gases, mainly through burning of fossil fuels.” (GovHK 2010) Under the agreement, Australia must meet its goal in the national measures. The Kyoto Protocol gives additional suggestions of meeting this goal by setting the Kyoto mechanisms which are: emissions trading, the cleaning development mechanism and joint implementation. (UNFCCC 2009) Two major contributors of greenhouse gases in Hong Kong are power generation and the transport sector. (GovHK 2010) Even though the Hong Kong Government is not a member of the Kyoto Protocol, it has been promoting the use of cleaner fuel and renewable energy got over a decade to reduce the production of greenhouse gases from power generation. (GovHK 2010) The Hong Kong Government has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with National Energy…

    • 1170 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays
    • 1551 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    In view of the dangers posed by global warming, a treaty known as the Kyoto Protocol has been designed to help lower emission of dangerous gases that are responsible for global warming and atmospheric deterioration. It is an amendment of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which was an original treaty on global warming.…

    • 4517 Words
    • 19 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    According to the writer, as the “world's two biggest polluters” the agreement between the U.S and China represent a major step toward addressing climate change.The writer reports that climate change is a global issue that need the coordinated effort of countries around the world. The writer also includes a speech by His Holiness Pope Francis, who said that "Climate change is a global problem with grave implications." This article is important to my research paper as it provides up to date information on the status of measures taken by countries in the effort to fight global…

    • 993 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement, meant to counteract the effects of global warming and climate change, which could have serious implications for the energy industry. The treaty aims at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the countries that signed it (Cliff Pearson, 1999). The increase in greenhouse gas emissions is said to be responsible for global warming which has serious consequences for the environment (Environmental Protection Agency (website), 2000). The first international initiative to deal with the climate change problem was the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) signed in 1992. The goal of this non-legally…

    • 1822 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The international response to climate change is highlighting the emergence of the two protocol that…

    • 567 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Long, S. (2008). Climate change: ambition missing at upcoming u.n. talks. Retrieved January 3, 2009, from Friends of the Earth:: http://www.foei.org/en/media/archive/2008/climate-change-ambition-missing-at-upcoming-u.n.…

    • 764 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Kyoto Protocol

    • 496 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Most countries in the world have signed the Kyoto Protocol; it is referred as a token of gesture of support. Australia was allowed an 8% increase in emissions, but still Australia refused to ratify the agreement until a change in government in late 2007. Their reasoning why they did not want to sign it was because it would have been very bad for Australia’s…

    • 496 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    protocol

    • 623 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Measurements of progress for the United Kingdom’s climate change protocol will be reported and verified through a variety of procedures. Most dominantly, England is a proud member of the Kyoto protocol, which monitors progress of all the countries involved. The program evaluates all emissions of GHG from each country to find where monitoring of the gases is most necessary. Precise records of emission trading are recorded to ensure the target goal is within reach. To ensure the rules of the protocol are followed, the UN Climate Change Secretariat keeps an international transaction log. This log requires all emitters of GHG to seek approval of the protocol to proceed with the transaction. Regular intervals are established by the protocol; forcing parties to report annual emission inventories and national reports. Along with reporting, there is a compliance system in which parties unable to reach requirements can receive help in doing so. As far as help goes, there is an adaptation aspect to the protocol to research innovative strategies to reduce emissions of GHG. The developing countries coincidently adopt technology, increasing resilience to the impacts of climate change. All of these methods were included in the protocol to ensure progress is reported and verified. If the progression slows or faces problems, the Kyoto protocol has the answer. England strongly supports all aspects of the Kyoto protocol to monitor their own emissions as well as help improve the status of friendly parties. CDM projects help finance most of the adaptation projects in developing countries. Researching new ways to reduce emissions verifies progress with the ongoing problem. These CDM projects introduce new affordable ways to deal with the impacts of climate change. Recording emissions, developing research projects, and compliance between countries are three main parts to measuring progress of the United…

    • 623 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Japan - Company/Culture

    • 3423 Words
    • 14 Pages

    | Fortes mesures pour atteindre les objectifs fixés par Kyoto ; forte sensibilité aux problèmes environnementaux ; ministère de l’environnement depuis 1971 ; un des leaders mondiaux dans les nouvelles technologies vertes : soutien de l’Etat…

    • 3423 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    In order to talk about the problems which have been discussed and the solutions which have been found during the 2009 Copenhagen climate change summit, first we have to present a few aspects regarding the Kyoto protocol.…

    • 793 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    significance unfccc

    • 546 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In order to ensure the implementation of this Convention and to promote cooperation among the world’s nations to accelerate efforts to prevent global warming, the Third Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC was held in Kyoto in December 1997. The Conference resulted in the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol sets greenhouse gases (GHGs) reduction targets for all developed countries, and these targets ensure that GHGs from developed countries will be reduced by at least 5% from 1990 levels during the period from 2008 to 2012. Japan made a commitment in the Protocol to reduce GHGs by 6%.…

    • 546 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays