Kyoto Protocol : A Global Problem

The UNFCCC is working with the various governments around the world to stabilize the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere to keep the planet from warming more than 2ºC above pre-industrial temperatures (Watts, 2015). The most noted of the work is the annual Conference of the Parties (COP) meetings that began with COP1 in Berlin back in 1995. The COP3 adopted the Kyoto Protocol, even though it wasn’t fully accepted by all member nations. The COP21 was an effort to legally bind members to their submitted plans of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), defining what level of greenhouse gas production each nation would commit to not exceeding from 2025-2030. Prior to the INDCs, a bleak outlook was forecast in 2009-2010 of global temperature rising between 4-5ºC. That figure was restated by the UNFCCC prior to the COP21 in Paris, to below 3ºC, due to the commitments of the INDCs (Watts, 2015).

The advent of industrialized civilization has brought to us many remarkable feats that enhance our everyday lives. Such things as automobiles, airplanes, tractors, mainframe computers, and even relatively simple machines like lawnmowers have intertwined themselves into the everyday culture of modern day industrialized countries.. These products have provided us enormous benefits compared to the types of lives our ancestors used to live. In the eyes of some, the consequences of industrial activities that have evolved around the world will not pose any problems in the future, however as most have realized, this is not true. Contemporary production processes use fossil fuels such as

“Scientists have been warning about global warming for decades. It's too late to stop it now, but we can lessen its severity and impacts” - David Suzuki. Global warming, a primary topic of debate in various conversations throughout all levels of government, has been an issue for countless years. In fact, of the 134 years recorded, the 10 warmest years have all occurred “since 2000, with the exception of 1998 “(NASA). Solving a global issue such as this is not as easy as it may seem; however ,The Paris Agreement vows to do just that by setting a plan to limit global warming to well below 2°C in “the first-ever universal, legally binding global climate deal” (Europa). Before signing off on such an agreement one must analyze the many negatives

Thus the Kyoto plan is flawed in many ways. The actually origin of such ideas of global warming come to us from computer generated predictions by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicted in 1990 that there would be a 5 degree Celsius

The Kyoto Protocol is a binding international agreement, which began in Kyoto, Japan in 1997. As of June 2013, there were a total of 192 parties participating in the Kyoto Protocol, Canada was no longer one of them. Canada was one of the first to sign the agreement, in 1998; more than 4 years later, Canada formally approved the Kyoto Accord, in 2002 ("CBC.ca - Timeline: Canada and Kyoto"). This meant Canada would have to decrease its emissions, by 6% in comparison to 1990 levels (461 Mt), by the year 2012. Despite some efforts, Canada failed to meet these requirements and in fact increased total emissions by roughly 24% by the year 2008. Canada formally withdrew from the Kyoto Accord in 2011, avoiding

Indeed, if we accept the danger of global warming to be a real and present one, then the question of how to address it must be given serious consideration. Research conducted from as early as the 1950s through the present has afforded us a solid understanding of its causes. In the most basic sense, the problem lies in the burning of carbon-based fossil fuels such as carbon and oil which leads to the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2). Gases such as CO2 are referred to as greenhouse gases (GHGs) which accumulate in the atmosphere. GHGs can

On December 15, 2011, the Government of Canada authoritatively told the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that Canada would practice its legitimate right to formally pull back from the Kyoto Protocol. The Environment Minister, Peter Kent, was the one who announced this. The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement connected to the UNFCCC that sets internationally binding greenhouse gas reduction targets for each country that is in the agreement. There are a lot of benefits as to why Canada should stay in the agreement, but at the same time there are a few complications and setbacks that we will have to face as well. Canada will reduce the amount of greenhouse gases, save money and create jobs, and reduce drastic

The fundamental pillars for such mess are too many, and the reason to that forced to choose Global Warming as a complexity its because it affects all countries and humanity. A complexity that isn’t trivial at all, in fact, I think it’s one the hardest issues to be handled thoughout history. In addition, the reason for addressing this is because the vicious implications that will reflect on us both in the short and long-term. Some of the implications would be, climate change, rising in sea levels, extreme weather, shortage of food and water, extinction of species and animals, famine, starvations, diseases and many other gigantic negative effects (Report, 2007). Thus, there must be an action to be done in order to stop this issue. Some of the possible solutions that might help to face Global Warming

According to an article focused on environmental awareness, “the world’s average surface temperature rose by approximately 1 degree Fahrenheit, the fastest rate in any period over the last 1000 years” (Source A). Damage has already been done to the environment but it is not the time to throw our hands up, it is the time for leaders in all sectors to tackle this issue head on. We know that carbon dioxide is the culprit, so now it is imperative to implement the solution and take a hard look at who is producing the most greenhouse gases. Big changes need to take place but they can only be done in steps and not all at once to be effective. In an excerpt from a book about global warming, Mark Maslin brings up the point that many feel the Kyoto Protocol does not go far enough; scientists believe that a 60% cut of greenhouse gas emissions is necessary in order to “prevent major climate change” (Source E). A sixty percent cut of emissions should be what countries work up to achieving but first and foremost, every country needs to agree to the Kyoto Protocol guidelines. The Kyoto Protocol itself should not be viewed as the end in the discussion of greenhouse gas restrictions, but rather the first stepping stone to a much broader and effective

Regardless of the people who do and do not believe in global warming, climate change is a pressing issue that has been accepted scientifically and politically for the past few decades. Although seemingly insignificant, a global temperature increase of 2°C is enough for worldwide pandemonium. To mitigate the effects of greenhouse gases that are trapping heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, nation leaders have gathered to settle and promise a fixed reduction in their country’s carbon emissions; the target emission level will cause an increase of only 1.5°C. Prominent examples include the Kyoto Protocol and Copenhagen Accord, with the most recent being the Paris Agreement. Nevertheless, disappointing carbon emission results from the Kyoto Protocol

Abstract: For last 37 years as a world we have spent lot of time in studying climate change and fixing a blame. First World Climate Conference was held on 12-23 February 1979 in Geneva. (wikipedia) It was one of the first major international meetings on climate change. We are studying climate change, it’s impact, causes and how to fix mess created by us. But now it 's high time for us to move forward and act on controlling Human contribution to Greenhouse Gases(GHG) which is major contributing factor to climate change.This way we are giving back to society and future generations.

For the past years, global warming and climate change became important issues of science and the environment. However, with the realization of the possible threats it poses to humankind in general, global warming gained international significance. Climate change is a global problem that requires a global response embracing the needs and interests of all countries (Boer, 2008). Countries around the world, convinced by the threats of the global warming, choose to act hand-in-hand to face to the issue.

Climate change is a worldwide issue. Not only is firm action and leadership critical in the United States, but also international efforts need to work toward reducing emissions. Strong public demand for climate change is crucial to enact effective global warming solutions for the future. Unless immediate action is taken, climate change will continue to escalate and continue to affect the entire planet. Ways nations and individuals can help repair the earth's atmosphere is reduce air pollution, use green energy, stop deforestation. Reducing air pollution could have a dramatic effect on climate change. Humans could impact this reduction by simple things such as conserving

As a basic description the Kyoto Protocol is a document, which legally binds all member countries that are classified as ‘developed’ to meet specific emission reduction targets. The protocol brings with it several ‘Commitment periods’, which as the name suggests are periods of time by which member states are bound to the protocol. The initial commitment period began in 2008 and ceased in 2012. The next began in 2013 and will end in 2020. Currently there are 192 member states to the protocol. It has been determined that developed countries are primarily responsible for the current elevated levels of Greenhouse gases (GHG). The Kyoto Protocol puts heavier goals on the developed countries based on the idea of differentiated but common responsibilities. The Protocol dictates that there are six primary Greenhouse gases identified as contributing the most harm to the natural environment, these being: Methane, Carbon Dioxide, Nitrous Oxide, Hydro fluorocarbons, Per fluorocarbons and Sulfur Hexafluoride (U.S. EPA, N.D.)

Pollution, specifically global warming, is of growing concern to people and governments. It is a controversial issue whose validity is still being debated by scientists. The Kyoto Protocol is an international attempt to address global warming through emissions controls. Traditional neoclassical economic models do not incorporate pollution in rudimentary theories of supply, demand, or pricing, as a result, firms do not consider pollution as a cost of production, which leaves government regulation as the primary method for controlling these externalities. The goal of emissions trading is to allow one business, which can make greenhouse gas emission reductions for a relatively low cost, to sell