H03985
Headlines : EnvironmentUS-led emissions pact seen as Kyoto rival
The USA are leading an effort to undermine the Kyoto Protocol by making a new agreement called the “Asia-Pacific Partnership for Clean Development and Climate” which emphasizes the voluntary use of clean technology and has no legally binding emission targets. The US and Australia have the largest per-capita Carbon Dioxide emissions in the world and have refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol because they claim it would be damaging to their economies. Latest estimates predict that by 2100, the temperature may have increased by up to 10ºC which would have a devastating effect on all life on Earth.
[Posted By PerceptualChaos]Republished from New Scientist
The world’s four largest coal-consuming countries have announced a pact to share technology for limiting emissions of greenhouse gases. The US, China, India, Australia – plus Japan and South Korea – signed what is being seen as a rival to the Kyoto Protocol to curb climate change, which the US and Australia have refused to sign.
The new pact will be known as the Asia-Pacific Partnership for Clean Development and Climate. It allows the countries to set their own goals for emissions of greenhouse gases, with no enforcement measures. This is in contrast to the Kyoto Protocol, which requires industrial nations to accept legally binding emissions targets.
The Australian prime minister John Howard said the deal would be “fairer” than the Kyoto Protocol, and that it “demonstrated the very strong commitment of Australia to reducing greenhouse gas emissions”.
But critics point out that Australia pulled out of the Kyoto Protocol, having cited it as too arduous, even though it gave Australia a uniquely favourable deal under which it could increase its emissions by 8% between 1990 and 2010.
Undermining Kyoto
Environmental groups swiftly condemned the pact. Without legally binding caps on emissions it is “like a peace plan that allows guns to be fired”, says…
Posted by PerceptualChaos
RELATED ITEMS
- G8 leaders agree global warming is urgent problem
Posted by PerceptualChaos on Sunday, July 10th 2005 - Climate scientists fear fudge at G8 meeting
Posted by PerceptualChaos on Tuesday, July 5th 2005 - Bush wants to shift global warming debate
Posted by gaanjah_mama on Monday, July 4th 2005 - US accepts Earth is warming in bid to avert clash
Posted by alpinestar on Saturday, July 2nd 2005 - Clearing smoke may trigger global warming rise
Posted by PerceptualChaos on Thursday, June 30th 2005 - One in six countries facing food shortage
Posted by PerceptualChaos on Thursday, June 30th 2005 - New probe may silence climate sceptics
Posted by PerceptualChaos on Wednesday, June 1st 2005 - Climate change warning over food production
Posted by PerceptualChaos on Sunday, May 1st 2005 - A Global Warming Primer
Posted by Snark on Saturday, April 16th 2005 - UK Environment Secretary exposes G8 rift on global warming
Posted by BurningMonk on Monday, June 13th 2005 - Why global warming puts bib on the menu
Posted by alpinestar on Friday, May 13th 2005
No doubt the elite on Easter Island also said it would “damage the economy” to reduce consumption of those ever more scarce trees…
what a bunch of bullshit!! who’s dumb enough to swallow this crap up?? there comes a time when we must be held responsible for our actions, and as long as citizens choose to be ignorant about this particular issue, then they themselves condemn us, who can blame the greedy, self-righteous leadership who only have profits and corporate power at heart?
-alex
That is deep! No doubt. Driving in from Louisiana this evening, I commented to my cousin about how well-aligned the Pine trees are on the acreage along side the highway. He told me that what I was looking at were Tree farms. Hmmmm. Major Paper Mill and Lumber companies growing Pines on cleared acreage. WTF?
-Perceptual
I think we can all assume at this point that Bush & Co. want a kinder, gentler approach to the status quo of environmental destruction. If we hinder business from doing business as usual, the elite will have to give up so much that they take for granted. That is the real deal. It is about preservation of the lifestyles of the rich and infamous.
I believe Japan is sincere, but…
I’ll bet that China is the country that will set the baseline for environmental standards in the next 15 to 20 years, to which all businesses will be required to comply.