Quote:
Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate
#1 - Kyoto does not go anywhere near far enough. The cuts being asked for in Kyoto will have only a negligible effect on climate change. Kyoto asked for a 5% cut in CO2 when that needed to have an extra zero on the end. ( http://www.alternet.org/envirohealth/21261/)
#2 - I agree with everyone here that says that international trading of credits is wrong. You shouldn't be able to buy yourself out of your responsibilities.
#3 - The lack of controls on the developing world make the whole thing moot. If China and India increases their CO2 production at the same rate that the developed world drop theirs, we are no better off. There needs to be a stronger, stricter agreement that addresses all countries.
#4 - We shouldn't need Kyoto. We shouldn't need governments agreeing to come back and tell their countries what to do. People, as individuals, should do the right thing. Businesses should do the right thing. Given that 90% of climatologists agree that humans are influencing the climate via the greenhouse effect, the prudent move would be for people to evaluate their lives and find ways to cut their CO2 production. Buy a hybrid car, or better yet, use public transportation. Wear a sweater instead of turning up the heat. Use alternative energy whenever possible. We shouldn't need agreements like Kyoto to tell us to be good environmental citizens. We should be doing it because it's the right thing to do. |
I agree with all of this--and this is what makes me a bit of a pessimist about the problem in general. Kyoto was always a bit like building a fence around half your property--and with the U.S. unwilling to play along, it's even worse.
The problem is, if they won't even agree to half a fence, how will we get anybody to sign on to a whole one?