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The Daily OrangeUN attempts to reduce greenhouse gases
By Katherine Boylan
Posted: 3/2/05, 12:29 AM EST Section: News
Over 100 nations have agreed to help stop the continuing rise in global temperature by signing a pact to reduce greenhouse emissions by 2012.
The Kyoto Protocol was initiated on Feb. 16. It is part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which was created over a decade ago.
"The protocol is a treaty that was signed by a number of nations in an effort to decrease the carbon and greenhouse gases in the atmosphere," said Richard Smardon, chair of Environmental Studies at State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
The Kyoto Protocol requires nations to decrease the amount of greenhouse gas emission an average of 5.2 percent below their 1990 levels by the year 2012. The treaty was signed by 141 countries, which account for 55 percent of greenhouse gas emissions around the world. Neither the United States nor Australia signed the treaty.
"(The treaty) is supposed to serve as a first step toward addressing the problem of global climate change," said David Driesen, an environmental law expert and professor in the Syracuse University College of Law, in an e-mail. "The United States did not ultimately agree to come on board and unfortunately the United States is the largest emitter (of greenhouse gases)."
Ashley Miller, a freshman broadcast journalism major, said the protocol is of "minimal worth."
"Developing nations are still not fully involved and the U.S. isn't completely behind it," Miller said. "By 2010, the reductions will obviously help, but it's basically not putting enough effort into the cause."
Responses to the treaty have been mixed. Smardon said some scientists believe there needs to be a reduction by 60 percent in order to reduce the global climate change. Critics of the protocol said even a 20 percent reduction of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases would not have a great enough affect on the atmosphere.
"The goals are too low and the timetable is far too long to make a serious dent in climate change," said Jake Eichten, president of the Student Environmental Action Coalition in an e-mail. "Even so, corporate interests and their political allies - this includes Clinton as well as Bush II - continue to prevent its passage."
The Kyoto Protocol was initiated on Feb. 16. It is part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which was created over a decade ago.
"The protocol is a treaty that was signed by a number of nations in an effort to decrease the carbon and greenhouse gases in the atmosphere," said Richard Smardon, chair of Environmental Studies at State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
The Kyoto Protocol requires nations to decrease the amount of greenhouse gas emission an average of 5.2 percent below their 1990 levels by the year 2012. The treaty was signed by 141 countries, which account for 55 percent of greenhouse gas emissions around the world. Neither the United States nor Australia signed the treaty.
"(The treaty) is supposed to serve as a first step toward addressing the problem of global climate change," said David Driesen, an environmental law expert and professor in the Syracuse University College of Law, in an e-mail. "The United States did not ultimately agree to come on board and unfortunately the United States is the largest emitter (of greenhouse gases)."
Ashley Miller, a freshman broadcast journalism major, said the protocol is of "minimal worth."
"Developing nations are still not fully involved and the U.S. isn't completely behind it," Miller said. "By 2010, the reductions will obviously help, but it's basically not putting enough effort into the cause."
Responses to the treaty have been mixed. Smardon said some scientists believe there needs to be a reduction by 60 percent in order to reduce the global climate change. Critics of the protocol said even a 20 percent reduction of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases would not have a great enough affect on the atmosphere.
"The goals are too low and the timetable is far too long to make a serious dent in climate change," said Jake Eichten, president of the Student Environmental Action Coalition in an e-mail. "Even so, corporate interests and their political allies - this includes Clinton as well as Bush II - continue to prevent its passage."
