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Kyoto Protocol The desire to evoke a change is a powerful one. As a child, I remember staying up late at night burdened by problems of hunger and poverty. I myself was extremely privileged and could not have been further away from these disasters. When I was younger, my mind took a simplistic approach to everything. I felt like if there were problems, a simple solution was easily in sight. I figured that with the correct action, anything could be saved. I found it difficult to grasp problems that arose as a result of people causing them. I was fortunate to experience a worthwhile education and was taught by a passionate teacher who felt it was her duty to inform her students about current global issues. I was changed by that class and have been extremely interested in global warming and the cost of the environmental destruction that accompany it, ever since. Environmental change is something that affects everyone on earth, whether they are aware of the issue or not. I have come to realize that for a significant global change to occur, multiple nations of the world must come together. The net changes in greenhouse gas emissions by sources and removals by sinks resulting from direct human-induced land-use change and forestry activities, limited to afforestation, reforestation and deforestation since 1990, measured as verifiable changes in carbon stocks in each commitment period, shall be used to meet the commitments under this Article of each Party included in Annex I. The greenhouse gas emissions by sources and removals by sinks associated with those activities shall be reported in a transparent and verifiable manner and reviewed in accordance with Articles 7 and 8. Issac Newton’s first law of motion explains that, “every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it.” Newton was a brilliant scientist, and I don’t want to undermine the importance of physics, but if Newton could have just changed that law to reflect the nature of people, the issue of global warming might have been handled a couple hundred years ago. Although, then, finding a paper topic would have been even more difficult, so I guess I should be thankful of Newton’s scientific, not emotional, prowess. I feel that the greenhouse gas emissions affect our modern day world like Newton’s laws of motion govern the scientific one. Greenhouse gas emissions are interconnected to most, if not all, of the environmental problems plaguing the earth. Harmful gas emissions and poor air quality are connected to issues of climate change, renewable energy, deforestation and water quality. We will continue to advance in technology and therefore emit harmful pollutants unless we find another way. The Kyoto Protocol is the external force applied to this situation. The Kyoto Protocol was created and implemented to stop the global community from continuing to release harmful greenhouse gasses into the environment. The Parties included in Annex I shall strive to implement policies and measures under this Article in such a way as to minimize adverse effects, including the adverse effects of climate change, effects on international trade, and social, environmental and economic impacts on other Parties, especially developing country Parties and in particular those identified in Article 4, paragraphs 8 and 9, of the Convention, taking into account Article 3 of the Convention. The Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to this Protocol may take further action, as appropriate, to promote the implementation of the provisions of this paragraph. Each Party included in Annex I shall, by 2005, have made demonstrable progress in achieving its commitments under this Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol is a treaty that emphasized reducing greenhouse gases that cause climate change. The Protocol was created by the third Conference of the Parties (COP-3) to be submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Kyoto, Japan during December of 1997. The treaty focuses on industrialized countries reductions of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride, HFCs and PFCs by 5.2% below their 1990 emissions over the four year period from 2008-2012. As of today, 174 countries have ratified and signed the protocol. Industrial countries that emit the most greenhouse gasses are the United States, China and India (UNFCC). The United States contributes 24% of the world’s carbon emissions. Perhaps the Bush administration doesn’t feel that emitting almost a quarter of the world’s carbon emissions is an issue of utmost concern. The United States has not yet ratified the Kyoto Protocol (CBC News). It is extremely difficult to invoke a global change when a key greenhouse gas emitter, doesn’t participate. I don’t know if you’ve ever played duck, duck, goose, but if a quarter of the circle is missing, the game doesn’t really work. Maybe George Bush hasn’t experienced the fun of a duck, duck, goose filled childhood. He spent his boyhood days in Texas, which statistically produces the most carbon dioxide emissions out of all of the states. I guess Bush just wants his hometown and his home nation to lead by example. Texas emits more greenhouse gasses annually than the entire country of France. QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. According to Camilla Shreiner, who works with the Center for International Climate and Environmental Research Oslo, “burning coal, oil and gas adds more carbon to the cycle (carbon cycle rotation). This creates a surplus of CO2 that remains in the atmosphere for a long time” (Shreiner). It is clear that our actions have consequences, and that burning these fossil fuels produces elevated levels of carbon dioxide that lingers in the air. Shreiner goes on to add, “the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases are rich, industrialized countries like the EU (European Union) and the United States. The per capita emissions in a rich country are several times greater than those in a poor country” (Shreiner). It is important that all of the leading industrialized countries are involved with the Kyoto Protocol, because these are the nations that have the biggest opportunity to have a positive change. “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. Issac Newton’s third law of motion further emphasizes the interconnectedness all things have to one another. The emissions we emit have an impact on air quality and climate change. Climate change and temperatures rising affect glacial melting which can then in turn raise sea levels, encourage hurricanes and flooding. The lifestyle humans have grown accustomed to is damaging the world and creating all of the harmful CO2 emissions. We emit CO2 “through the consumption of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, gasoline and natural gas” (Greenpeace International). Deforestation also emits harmful QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. CO2. Deforestation contributes to poor air quality. The elimination of forests is a problematic endeavor (BBC News). Dick Bryant, with the World Resources Institute, commented that, “forest trees are important in counteracting climate change. They store vast amounts of carbon, which, if you clear them, burn them and degrade them, then go into the atmosphere and contribute to global warming.” The Kyoto Protocol’s significance and importance is based on its strict guidelines and strong rules that force countries to implement changes. There is such a danger of more harmful emissions over time as population and industry grows, the future looks grim if we continue on this path of action. If countries don’t cut back on the harmful emissions and ensure more eco-friendly energy uses, the results will be devastating. According to Viktor Danilov-Danilyan, a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences and director of the water problems institute, “the concentration of QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. greenhouse gases in the air is about 370 ppm (carbon dioxide in parts per million). By 2012 this figure is expected to grow by 18 ppm if Kyoto measures are not carried out, or by 16-17 ppm if they are.” The small changes, if implemented, over time will produce a considerable change in air quality and climate change. Industrial presence is inevitable, but the impact on the climate and air quality can be much improved. Remembering Newton’s Laws, one can see the changes other countries have made as a result of the Kyoto Protocol. They have been required to change their state of motion. Their actions have a strong impact, even if it is a small change on a global scale. Reducing greenhouse gasses and opting for more eco-friendly fuel sources alone will help many other issues because they are so closely intertwined. In the past, Indonesia has participated in a great destruction of forests. However, now, in an effort to help the global community and to prepare for an upcoming global climate change conference, they have embarked on the mission of planting 79 million trees throughout the country (Anderson). http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16686552 (click listen now) Indonesia is setting an example for the rest of the world to follow. I imagine other countries will follow suit in time. Creating a change is only possible if you try to create that change. Maybe my childhood fantasies weren’t so naïve. It seems that sometimes, those things that have the greatest impact are simple, easy decisions. Indonesia decided to plant some trees. They went about this on a much grander scale to improve the air quality and to do something dramatic and interesting enough that everyone else would find out about it. Harmful greenhouse gas emissions are impacting the environment in many ways. Landslides are becoming more and more common as the temperature continues to rise. Extreme weather catastrophes like hurricanes and floods also compliment the rise in temperature. Scientists believe that melting glaciers and and a disasters. The Earth warmer oceans are theQuickTime™ cause behind the increase in these TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see Observation Research Center (EORC) hasthis taken picture. footage from space highlighting the melting ice caps in the Artic and observed, “the concentration of sea ice has decreased continuously over the last several years” (japan website). http://www.eorc.jaxa.jp/en/imgdata/topics/2005/tp050811.html The simulator on the EORC website demonstrates the melting ice and the predicted outcome if temperatures continues to rise. The impact of melting ice is a great one. Sea levels can rise and flooding could become problematic in the future. David Adam writes, “the loss of glaciers in South America and Asia will threaten the water supplies of people within a few decades” (Adam). The loss of clean water that people depend on is a problem that we, as a global community, need to avoid. Research on, and promotion, development and increased use of, new and renewable forms of energy, of carbon dioxide sequestration technologies and of advanced and innovative environmentally sound technologies Before we can take action as a global community, we need to educate ourselves about the problems and issues regarding greenhouse gas emissions. The more information we can gather, the more likely a viable solution will be found. Al Gore is well known for bringing the issues at hand to the general public in a clear and simple way through his documentary “An Inconvenient Truth.” Al Gore addressed the public in this film with, "my fellow Americans, people all over the world, we need to solve the climate crisis. It's not a political issue; it's a moral issue. We have everything we need to get started, with the possible exception of the will to act. That's a renewable resource. Let's renew it” (An Inconvenient Truth). I remember watching his film in that life-changing history class during high school. Al Gore’s film was powerful because it combined dramatic visual images with statistics and Gore explained everything in between. I remember watching the film and watching the mudslides occur. The earth seemed to be heaving, turning itself inside out as it churned the hundreds of people in its path. http://www.stopglobalwarming.org/sgw_feature.asp?id=11 This trailer gives a small sample of the material included in “An Inconvenient Truth.” Al Gore talks about scientific research and proof regarding current global warming issues. He puts a dramatic take and emphasizes the importance of taking action. Gore is encouraging throughout the movie. He won the Nobel Peace Prize for his strong devotion to the global warming cause. This movie alone has had the impact to educate and inform millions of people. “An Inconvenient Truth,” has won academy awards, and countless awards for best documentary at film festivals across the country. Viewers were able to see what is currently happening around the world as a result of climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. If there is going to be a change in greenhouse gas emissions, my generation is most likely to create that change. We have witnessed the evolution of green living and hybrid car explosions. 10 years after the Kyoto Protocol, I feel that many more people are aware that action needs to take place. The evolution of biodiesel, a low emission fuel made from vegetable oil, and hybrid cars are the first of advances in technology that will allow fewer emissions and a cleaner way of life for the world at large. I have learned that every action has a reaction. Whether that reaction is equal and opposite or far-reaching and tightly connected, the fact remains the same. The issue of climate change and the release of greenhouse gasses have forced the world and all of it’s people to take action. A circle is not a complete ring if people are missing. There can be a strong support, a strong foundation for change by coming together and embracing one another’s knowledge like the Kyoto Protocol outlines. Honestly, who doesn’t want a chance to play duck, duck, goose with a circle that links everyone together?