* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download Kyoto Protocol - muhlsdk12.org
Effects of global warming on humans wikipedia , lookup
Attribution of recent climate change wikipedia , lookup
Emissions trading wikipedia , lookup
Citizens' Climate Lobby wikipedia , lookup
Global warming controversy wikipedia , lookup
Global warming hiatus wikipedia , lookup
Fred Singer wikipedia , lookup
Scientific opinion on climate change wikipedia , lookup
Economics of global warming wikipedia , lookup
Climate change, industry and society wikipedia , lookup
Climate governance wikipedia , lookup
Surveys of scientists' views on climate change wikipedia , lookup
Climate change and poverty wikipedia , lookup
German Climate Action Plan 2050 wikipedia , lookup
Solar radiation management wikipedia , lookup
Climate change mitigation wikipedia , lookup
Global warming wikipedia , lookup
Paris Agreement wikipedia , lookup
Climate change in New Zealand wikipedia , lookup
Kyoto Protocol and government action wikipedia , lookup
Economics of climate change mitigation wikipedia , lookup
Climate change in the United States wikipedia , lookup
Low-carbon economy wikipedia , lookup
Kyoto Protocol wikipedia , lookup
Climate change feedback wikipedia , lookup
2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference wikipedia , lookup
Public opinion on global warming wikipedia , lookup
United Nations Climate Change conference wikipedia , lookup
Years of Living Dangerously wikipedia , lookup
Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme wikipedia , lookup
Mitigation of global warming in Australia wikipedia , lookup
IPCC Fourth Assessment Report wikipedia , lookup
Kyoto Protocol Protocol = an original draft or record of a document, negotiation etc. Objectives/Student-Friendly Learning Targets: Students will… Discuss the purpose of the Kyoto Protocol and construct an argument either for or against U.S. ratification of the document. What? Amendment to an international treaty on climate change Objective: To stabilize greenhouse gas levels to slow down global warming How? Assign mandatory emissions limitations for the reduction of greenhouse gases to signatory nations Reductions based on 1990 emissions Amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by 20% since 1990 and the ten hottest years on record have occurred since 1990 Each country being asked to reduce its emissions to a certain percent below its 1990 levels so that by the end of the first commitment period combined emissions have been reduced to 5% below 1990 levels Countries develop their own strategies to meet their targets Failure to reach target results in consequences Countries that cut more GHGs than necessary can sell emissions to other countries that are struggling with reductions (emissions trading program) Governed by global legislation under the U.N. When? Opened for signatures 1997 Entered into force 2005 First commitment period 2008-2012 Who? Two general categories: Annex I Developed countries who have accepted greenhouse gas emissions reduction obligations and must submit an annual greenhouse gas inventory to show progress; must reduce emissions by a collective average of 5% below 1990 levels NonAnnex I Developing countries who have no greenhouse gas emissions reduction obligations Developed vs. Developing? Developed Countries: Higher standard of living High degree of manufacturing and industry Only small percentage of the population is engaged in the production of food Developing Countries: Lower standard of living Working towards industrialization Most of the population is engaged in the production of food The United States? A signatory BUT has not ratified the agreement NOR withdrawn! The signature alone is symbolic, but non-binding unless ratified The U.S. wants to combat climate change but does not think the Kyoto Protocol is the right way to do so The U.S. is the only developed country that has not ratified the treaty The United States? Should the U.S. ratify the Kyoto Protocol or is it best that they have not? Select three arguments in favor of your position and write down the topic sentence and supporting details for each. Take note of arguments in favor of the opposing position in order to complete a thoughtful rebuttal. = argument for why the U.S. should NOT ratify = argument for why the U.S. SHOULD ratify WHY Has the U.S. Not Ratified the Protocol? 1. Established not by science, but by political negotiation and is arbitrary and ineffective It is a scheme to slow the growth of the world’s industrial democracies or to transfer wealth to the Third World Should have a more scientific, comprehensive plan Note: The theory of anthropogenic, or humancaused climate change is supported by 98% of actively publishing climate scientists! WHY Has the U.S. Not Ratified the Protocol? 2. Global warming is a challenge for the world Do not support split between Annex 1 and other countries Not just one or some countries contributing to global warming It must be as comprehensive as possible and incorporate as many countries as possible Some developing countries emit more greenhouse gasses than developed ones China and India are completely exempt but are two of the top five emitters of greenhouse gasses China: China is building on average one coal-fired power plant every week 70% of energy in China comes from coal which is very dirty China is the world’s largest emitter of carbon dioxide China has 7 of the 10 most polluted cities in the world Even though China is 3,000 miles away, it is polluting American cities and parks on the West Coast Transportation is the greatest pollutant in U.S. and China but China does not control emissions for cars WHY Has the U.S. Not Ratified the Protocol? 3. Negative impact on the global economy Costs outweigh the benefits and put strain on economy Efforts to combat global warming must be voluntary and based on free market solutions with market based incentives to spur innovation and environmental conservation U.S. is committed to investing heavily in R & D and encouraging private companies to do the same It is no country’s best interest to sacrifice their or the U.S.’s economic growth, which would have adverse effects around the world WHY Has the U.S. Not Ratified the Protocol? 4. Global warming is a scientific theory/myth not fact Weather patterns change Warming is a natural part of a process of climate change that takes place over thousands of years Earth naturally warms and cools and has been warming since the end of the last ice age about 10,000 years ago Why Has the U.S. Not Ratified the Protocol? 5. 1990 Base Line is unfair Countries have different achievements in energy efficiency Former Soviet Union and eastern European countries had worst levels in 1990 Have since become more energy efficient Will not be difficult to reach target Could easily make additional reductions allowing them to profit from sale of emissions A number of countries would reap huge windfall gains not based on actual reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, but rather, because of external factors making baseline emission quotas inappropriate WHY Has the U.S. Not Ratified the Protocol? 6. Local and state governments are participating As of August 2007, 663 cities in the 50 states representing 72 million Americans support the protocol State level emissions capping and trading program in January 2007 included 8 Northeastern states involved in a Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative representing 46 million Americans National government does not need to take action because local and state governments have already done so Jan 1, 2013 = California, the most populous state in the U.S. and the 9th biggest economy in the world, launched a carbon cap-and-trade system (auctioned carbon permits), establishing a declining limit on the state’s greenhouse-gas emissions. CA has legally committed itself to reducing its carbon emissions to 1990 levels by 2020! (CA currently responsible for 1% of global emissions.) WHY Has the U.S. Not Ratified the Protocol? 7. Cost of actually implementing it Why Has the U.S. Not Ratified the Protocol? 8. Does not provide a long-term solution to global warming World will still be contributing to global warming even if all developed countries ratify Why Should the U.S. Ratify the Protocol? 1. Industrialized countries created problem we have now and should fix it Grew rich from industrialization and should now pay for it China, India and other developing countries were not included in any numerical limitation because they were not the main contributors to the greenhouse gas emissions during the industrialization period that is believed to be causing today’s climate change Why Should the U.S. Ratify the Protocol? 2. Cannot deny developing countries the same rights we enjoyed and took advantage of Cannot now tell developing countries that we the industrial nations of the world have used up the ability of the atmosphere to hold carbon dioxide so you cannot put anymore in Why Should the U.S. Ratify the Protocol? 3. Developing countries cannot afford to follow protocol Need money for public services and to build industry and business Developing countries need to grow their industries and cannot restrict growth by reducing emissions Emerging industries help pull people out of poverty and create a higher standard of living Why Should the U.S. Ratify the Protocol? 4. U.S. will pay heavy price if sea levels continue to rise so we cannot afford not to do something about it Scientists say taking action can prevent sea level rise from becoming even worse 1 meter increase = 25,000 sq. miles underwater Would have to abandon low-lying areas, build barriers, or raise the elevation of buildings Serious public health risk from rising salt water tainting drinking water wells Protecting America’s coastlines could run well into the billions and not all spots could be saved Will have more impact on the population and infrastructure than anything else Why Should the U.S. Ratify the Protocol? 5. U.S. is the 3rd most populous nation and we need to lead by example We export a lifestyle other countries want to emulate American child will consume and pollute over a lifetime more than 30 children born in India U.S. uses more resources than any other nation U.S. generates ¼ greenhouse gasses contributing to global warming Why Should the U.S. Ratify the Protocol? 6. China has the world’s largest population so it will emit more pollution Population of China is four times larger than that of the U.S. China may have become the largest emitter of carbon dioxide however per capita emissions in the U.S. are much higher than those in China which shows that people in the U.S. enjoy a higher standard of living and confirms that China is still in the process of development Why Should the U.S. Ratify the Protocol? 7. China just wants what America already has Kusnet Curve will eventually come into play in China Pollution will drop when a population demands a cleaner, healthier environment once it achieves a certain standard of living China Looking Ahead… Five year programs… Have been implemented by the government since 1981 Have been meant to modernize the economy and produce more goods for export Guidelines for current five year program (2011-15): Promote strategic industries and scientific research (want to see people put to work doing things that benefit the environment – creating green energy technology, researching green energy sources, etc) Shrink the income gap between rural and urban areas Invest $15 billion in farmland to boost farmers’ incomes Increase consumer spending by raising minimum wages and controlling inflation Reduce the release of major pollutants and increase use of renewable energy China Looking Ahead… In 2010, China spent more than any other nation on clean energy research ($54.4 billion) Already a world leader in the use of wind power About to spend $300 billion on science and technology (Sept. 2011) Will train 2,000 scientists to do research in the field of fusion energy, a form of nuclear energy (fusion = the cleanest, most abundant source of energy imaginable!) Excellent education creates many candidates for research positions China Looking Ahead… In March 2011, China’s government announced its support for developing a whole new cluster of leading-edge industries – wants to switch from old, energy-guzzling industries to newer, greener ones! Information technology Manufacture of energy-saving cars Will spend half a trillion dollars Government is dividing the nation into 53 zones – each will receive its own guideline for a greener economic expansion and/or conservation China: China has started to take action to combat global warming – may actually “out green” the U.S.! India has also signaled that it wants to be active on climate change Does this put more pressure than ever on the U.S.? Immanuel Kant “Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.” Before doing anything, you need to imagine everyone else doing the same thing and it still being okay! Kant called this the ultimate moral dictum. Examples: Telling kids not to pick “just one flower” because if everyone did it, there’d be no flowers left. Telling students that they should not litter “just one candy wrapper” as this could lead to an environmental disaster. Conclusion: Tug of war between those in charge of the economy and environmentalists! vs Selfish Environmentalism Companies are starting to turn green in service to their bottom line! Financial Gains executives around the world are becoming aware that ecological degradation has the potential to put their businesses at risk Reputational Gains companies want to make themselves look good by giving the appearance of caring for the environment Selfish Environmentalism Reputational Gains: Coca-Cola, the global beverage giant, became entangled in a controversy over its water use at a bottling plant in India Nearby villagers held the company responsible for a dramatic drop in the level of the region’s groundwater Demonstrations caught the attention of environmental activists resulting in negative publicity and protests and boycotts at college campuses across the U.S. and Europe Was at a time when the company was expanding its pure-water products like mineral water Selfish Environmentalism Financial Gains Coca-Cola’s fortunes are tied to the environment as water is the main ingredient in most of its products Operates in all but 3 countries Now maintains a database combining water-flow data with predictions of population growth, economic development and climate change, giving it an idea of the challenges its various plants can expect to face in the coming century All of its facilities must now map out a water plan, to understand where their supply comes from and what they can do to protect it Selfish Environmentalism Financial Gain For Starbucks, government restrictions on carbon emissions are nothing compared with the threat that global warming could pose to the company’s primary product, the climate-sensitive Arabica coffee bean. Already, the company’s small-scale suppliers have complained about changing weather patterns that have begun to disrupt their yields Warm winters have unleashed pest infestations Earlier rainy seasons threaten to drown their crops Stronger storms are wreaking havoc in the fields Selfish Environmentalism When it comes to the environment, sometimes it’s still money that makes the most convincing case. A coalition of companies (including Starbucks, Nike, Timberland & Levi Strauss) have lobbied the federal government to take action to reverse climate change. “Our goal in Washington is to raise awareness of elected officials that not everybody in the business community opposes legislation on climate change.” Tier 2 Vocabulary: pollution, fossil fuel, global warming, climate change, emissions, developed country, developing country, standard of living, economist, environmentalist Tier 3 Vocabulary: greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, Kyoto Protocol, Annex I, Non-Annex I, India Objectives/Student-Friendly Learning Targets: Students will… Discuss the purpose of the Kyoto Protocol and construct an argument either for or against U.S. ratification of the document. Essential Questions: What are the innumerable opportunities and freedoms students are lucky enough to enjoy on a daily basis living in the United States? What are the innumerable challenges and dangers some individuals and/or groups around the world experience on a daily basis? How is diversity evident in all of its many facets within the United States and across the globe? How have industrialization, urbanization and technological advancements precipitated the global economic and environmental challenges of the 21st century? How has technology eliminated political, physical and cultural boundaries of the past and made the world a smaller, more interdependent place?