Kyoto-protocol

For comments and reactions

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 20:26:41 -0500

please proceed to the discussion board below the page.

-Charles Kevin Difuntorum

4CSA

Countries Participating in Kyoto Protocol

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 08:47:00 -0500

Annex I parties to the convention:

http://unfccc.int/parties_and_observers/parties/annex_i/items/2774.php

Non-Annex I parties to the convention:

http://unfccc.int/parties_and_observers/parties/non_annex_i/items/2833.php

Above are the links to the list of the countries participating in the Kyoto Protocol. Annex I parties include countries that where members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and countries with economics in transition. On the other hand, Non-Annex I countries are mostly developing countries which in this case are more vulnerable to calamities and economical changes. The convention promises to answer to the needs and concerns of the Non-Annex I countries such as investment and technology transfer.

Michael Blong 4CSA

Earth Hour inline with Kyoto Protocol

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 08:33:39 -0500

Through my understanding of the Kyoto Protocol, one of the best methods to help out should be the promotion and application of the earth hour to every country. If we analyze carefully small efforts of people, small sacrifices by each and every person gradually would produce enormous results. By everybody participating we could save plenty of resources, prevent harmful gases by stopping machines producing different harmful gases and most of all it is also beneficial to people in a sense of saving money and energy. Kyoto protocol should attract more countries to join if they had more projects and activities such as Earth Hour which could generate more positive results to the earth’s preservation.

Earth Hour official Site:

http://www.earthhour.org/

Michael Blong 4CSA

Philippine Team in Panama to Fight for Survival

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 08:21:00 -0500

The fight for climate change would be more solidified if instances like this would happen all over the world. I would like to commend the Philippine Team in their efforts to help out the victims in Panama. It is a great deal of initiative of the Philippines being one of the most active members of the Kyoto Protocol devotees. Their stay would be more productive by attending the Panama Climate Change Conference which is held every October. More conferences like the said, would be great examples of how we could build towards a better plan to fight climate change. In spite of Canada, Japan and Russia withdrawing from the Kyoto Protocol, the still active members should be more determined to innovate and continue with this proposal to save the earth. For this treaty unites nations to obtain a specific goal in building and nurturing towards a better future for our planet

Source:

http://climate.gov.ph/index.php/en/news/press-releases/233-philippine-team-in-panama-to-fight-for-survival

Michael Blong

4CSA

No Plastic in LPC

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 06:12:00 -0500

http://alabangbulletin.com/2012/01/19/the-no-plastic-in-las-pinas-ordinance.html

I just wanted to share the new ordinance here in Las Piñas. At first I thought this would just be like any other rules that does not get implemented or followed, like the “no smoking rule in manila”, but as I am seeing this past week, I think everyone is still following. lets just see

Difuntorum, Charles Kevin

4CSA

Canada pulls out

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:45:14 -0500

It’s official Canada will not renew its commitment to the Kyoto Protocol once it expires this year. It’s very disappointing because Canada is a big and powerful country and if they pull out from the Kyoto Protocol other countries might also do the same thing.

“The Kyoto protocol does not cover the world’s largest two emitters, the United States and China, and therefore cannot work,” Kent said. “It’s now clear that Kyoto is not the path forward to a global solution to climate change. If anything it’s an impediment.”

If Canada can’t see the success of Kyoto Protocol and they are having a hard time to implement the protocol they should definitely find an alternative way that will replace the Kyoto Protocol. They should find a more effective way to improve a better protocol that is effective for their country. In that way, the objectives of the Kyoto Protocol would not be wasted.

As for this moment, let’s just hope that Canada made the right decision from pulling out from the Kyoto Protocol and wait for the results of their action.

Santiago, John Paulo A.

4CS-A

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Participation of the Philippines

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 09:09:00 -0500

Philippines is not an exception in the Earth facing a rapid warming chiefly due to our own activities. The increase in sea-level, temperature and precipitation are evidences of global warming in our country. That why it’s good to know that we are part of this Kyoto Protocol. In this way, we can do our own little part in saving our mother earth.

On the other hand, are we really doing our part? Are we really following the protocol? Or maybe we just can’t feel it? As I was searching for some Kyoto Protocols issues, only in this one article I first found out the project of the Philippines about the Clean Development Mechanism that was one of the protocol provided.

“Philippine CDM projects include the North Wind Bangui Bay Project and Philippines-Austria Partnership, which not only attract investors but alleviate GHG emissions as well. Hence, the ratification of Kyoto Protocol in the Philippines is considered as a significant ingredient in our development both in the industry and the environment “

We have to admit that Kyoto Protocol is not popular here in our country. I am not personally aware of the different activities of the Philippines about the Kyoto Protocol. There must be some other projects out there but do ordinary people like me have the knowledge about that? I don’t think so. I think that the government should do more not only in implementing the protocols but also in promoting it the our fellow countrymen. In that way people could be aware of the different protocols that should be followed.

If more people would be more aware of that it would have a greater impact for all and it would definitely benefit everyone here in this country. More people would help and support in the said protocol if that would happen. That’s why Kyoto Protocol here in the Philippines should be given more importance just like any other issues in out environment.

Santiago, John Paulo A.

4CS-A

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Sat, 28 Jan 2012 09:05:04 -0500

Controversy

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 09:03:33 -0500

Although a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol, US neither ratified nor withdrew from the Protocol. The US Senate voted against acting upon the treaty because the United States should not be a signatory to any protocol that does not include binding targets and timetables for developing nations as well.
The US and other Western nations like Australia and Canada assert that developing countries like China and India will account for most of the emissions in the coming decades, owing to their rapid industrialisation and economic growth.
India signed and ratified the Protocol in August, 2002. However being exempted from the framework of the treaty, it is expected to gain from the protocol in terms of transfer of technology and related foreign investments.
India believes that since the per-capita emission rates of the developing countries are negligible as compared to that in the developed world, the major responsibility of curbing emission rests with the developed countries which have accumulated emissions over a long period of time.

Source

“Take the Kyoto Protocol. Destruction of the environment is not only rational; it’s exactly...

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 08:51:21 -0500

“Take the Kyoto Protocol. Destruction of the environment is not only rational; it’s exactly what you’re taught to do in college. If you take an economics or a political science course, you’re taught that humans are supposed to be rational wealth accumulators, each acting as an individual to maximize his own wealth in the market. The market is regarded as democratic because everybody has a vote. Of course, some have more votes than others because your votes depend on the number of dollars you have, but everybody participates and therefore it’s called democratic. Well, suppose that we believe what we are taught. It follows that if there are dollars to be made, you destroy the environment. The reason is elementary. The people who are going to be harmed by this are your grandchildren, and they don’t have any votes in the market. Their interests are worth zero. Anybody that pays attention to their grandchildren’s interests is being irrational, because what you’re supposed to do is maximize your own interests, measured by wealth, right now. Nothing else matters. So destroying the environment and militarizing outer space are rational policies, but within a framework of institutional lunacy. If you accept the institutional lunacy, then the policies are rational.”

- Noam Chomsky

Judith world: Crucial Issues in Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol: Asia and the World

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 08:49:43 -0500

Judith world: Crucial Issues in Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol: Asia and the World:

judithtinas:

Crucial Issues in Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol: Asia and the World
“Crucial Issues in Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol: Asia and the World” focuses on responses to climate change in the world’s most populous region. This book provides the most comprehensive insight to the climate…

CLIMATE CARAVAN TO DURBAN: AFRICA SCRAMBLES TO RESCUE KYOTO PROTOCOL

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 08:48:12 -0500

CLIMATE CARAVAN TO DURBAN: AFRICA SCRAMBLES TO RESCUE KYOTO PROTOCOL:

climatecaravan:

By Simegnish Yekoye and Argaw Ashine, EEJA writers

The African Union wants the landmark Kyoto Protocol climate change treaty due to expire next year, to continue. AU chief negotiator on climate change, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and the host South African officials said…

History of the Kyoto Protocol

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:12:54 -0500

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992)

In the 1980s & early 1990s, the issue of global warming came to the forefront of international politics. In 1992, 154 countries, including Canada, signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The central element of the Convention was a commitment to stabilize greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere within a timeframe that would be sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change.

The 1992 Convention was only a general agreement in principle aimed at stabilizing greenhouse gas emissions. The Convention did not provide any of the important specifics for action, such as precise emission reduction targets, a timetable by which nations were to meet their targets, or a penalty system to punish violators.

Berlin Mandate (1995) & Ministerial Declaration (1996)

Between the signings of the UN Convention and the Kyoto Protocol, two Conferences of the Parties were held (referred to as “COP-1” and “COP-2”). At the first Conference, held in Berlin in 1995, nations adopted the Berlin Mandate, a commitment by developed nations to set specific targets and timeframes for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and to outline explicit policies and measures to meet these targets.

At the second Conference, held a year later in Geneva, Switzerland, nations adopted the Ministerial Declaration. This Declaration firmly stated that the science of climate change was compelling, and that legally binding commitments on greenhouse gas emissions were warranted.

Signing of the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change (1997)

At the third Conference of the Parties, held in Kyoto, Japan, member countries signed the Kyoto Protocol. The 1997 Protocol document was a comprehensive agreement that included precise greenhouse gas emission targets for each member country, the general framework of a greenhouse gas emissions-trading program, and a commitment to hold future Conferences of the Parties to round out important details of the new regime

Negotiating Implementation of the Kyoto Protocol (1997-2002)

Following the signing of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, participating nations held a string of COPmeetings in order to work out the Protocol’s details. In 1998, nations adopted the Buenos Aires Plan of Action, which established a list of 140 items that necessitated agreement before countries could ratify the Protocol. These items ranged from working out an enforcement regime to establishing the rules for an emissions-trading system.

Most of the high-profile issues that remained outstanding were finally resolved in the Bonn Agreements and the Marrakech Accords, signed at the sixth and seventh Conferences of the Parties (both held in 2001).

US & Australian Rejection of the Kyoto Protocol (2001-2002)

In 2001, the US would no longer be formally ratifying the agreement. While accepting the general principles of global warming, and the need for international cooperation to reduce levels of greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere, the Bush Administration was highly critical of many of the Protocol’s components, in particular the exemption granted to China, the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases.

In 2002, Australia also announced it would not ratify the Kyoto Protocol, even though it had signed the agreement in 1998. Publicly, Australian Prime Minister John Howard expressed concern over the potential effectiveness of the Protocol, considering the United States was no longer participating, and because the agreement did not impose any emission reduction targets on developing nations, in particular, China and India.

Rejection by the US and Australia placed the entire Kyoto climate control process in doubt. The Protocol would only come into force with ratification by at least 55 members of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Control, representing a minimum of 55 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions in 1990. Given that the US alone produced approximately 36 percent of the total 1990 greenhouse gas emissions, its non-participation would make it extremely difficult to meet this ratification threshold.

Kyoto Protocol Comes into Effect (2005)

By January 2004, several countries had ratified the Kyoto Protocol, including Japan, Canada, New Zealand, and most European signatories. Collectively, these ratifying countries represented approximately 44 percent of the total greenhouse gas emissions produced in 1990 – only 11 percent shy of the 55 percent target cited in the Protocol’s terms. The deciding factor in the eventual implementation of the Protocol was Russia, which represented 17 percent of total 1990 emissions.

Russia had been unclear about whether it would ratify the Protocol, However, in November 2004, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his government would indeed pass the agreement, ensuring the Protocol would come into effect in 2005. Russian support was due, in large part, to its desire to become a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

On February 16, 2005, the Kyoto Protocol formally came into effect, committing key industrialized countries, including Canada, to specific targets for reducing or limiting their greenhouse gas emissions between 2008 and 2012.

References:

http://maps.grida.no/go/graphic/kyoto-protocol-timeline-and-history

http://www.mapleleafweb.com/features/kyoto-protocol-climate-change-history-highlights

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Beyond Kyoto

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:12:32 -0500

The ratification of Kyoto may not be the be all and end all of possible solutions to climate change. Already some countries have experienced difficulty in reaching their targets. Recently released United Nations figures show greenhouse gases from 41 countries had risen dramatically. Emissions fell between 1990 and 2000 but they rose 2.6 per cent between 2000 and 2005.

Australia’s carbon emissions in 2005 were about 25.6 per cent above 1990 levels, although this falls to a rise of 4.5 per cent when the effect of bans on land-clearing is included. Australia is on its way to meeting its target by 2012. Yet ratification now requires new policies in energy consumption and carbon emissions trading—or Australia risks breaching Kyoto.

According to a United Nations report, Australia is ranked third in per capita emissions behind the US and Canada. If the rest of the world emitted carbon gases at the same per person rate as Australia, its population would need seven planets to sustain the pollution. Signing Kyoto represents a crucial shift in Australia’s war on climate change. Now is the time to make sure that this symbolic move becomes a reality through nation-wide policies and clear-cut emissions targets.

Source: http://www.actnow.com.au/Opinion/Rudds_rapid_ratification_of_the_Kyoto_Protocol.aspx