Transcript Global Warming & the Kyoto Protocols

Global Warming & the
Kyoto Protocols
The topic of global warming inspires
heated debates among world leaders.
 Industry representatives & (vs.)
environmentalists!
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there is a strong consensus in the scientific
community that the greenhouse effect is a real
phenomenon, and that humans are adding to
concentrations of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere.
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However, much remains unknown about the longterm consequences of (anthropogenic) activity on the
climate.
• Greenhouse gases--water vapor, carbon dioxide,
nitrous oxide, methane, chlorofluorocarbons, and ozone trap
heat in the atmosphere instead of allowing it to radiate back
into space.
• However, human activities are increasing the levels of these
gases in the atmosphere, causing an 'enhanced greenhouse
effect' that traps more heat. There is evidence that climate
warming is already underway.
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reported that
the twentieth century was the hottest in the last thousand
years.
The Kyoto protocols
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The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the
international Framework Convention on
Climate Change with the objective of
reducing Greenhouse gases that cause
climate change.
The Kyoto Protocol is an agreement made
under the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
It was agreed on 11 December 1997.
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Countries that ratify this protocol commit
to reduce their emissions of carbon
dioxide and five other greenhouse gases,
or engage in emissions trading if they
maintain or increase emissions of these
gases.
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The Kyoto Protocol now covers more than
170 countries globally and more than 60%
of countries in terms of global greenhouse
gas emissions. As of December 2007, the
US and Kazakhstan are the only signatory
nations not to have ratified the act.
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The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) has predicted an average
global rise in temperature of 1.4°C (2.5°F)
to 5.8 °C (10.4°F) between 1990 and 2100).
Continuing
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Germany has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 17.2%
between 1990 and 2004.
The energy policy of the United Kingdom fully endorses goals
for carbon dioxide emissions reduction and has committed to
proportionate reduction in national emissions on a phased
basis.
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In 1990, France shut down its last coal mine,
and now gets 80% of its electricity from
nuclear power and therefore has relatively low
CO2 emissions
The United States was, as of 2005, the
largest single emitter of carbon dioxide
from the burning of fossil fuels.
Regions, from largest emitter to the
smallest.
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1. The USA & Canada:
2. Western Europe (plus Germany)
 3 .Communist East Asia (China, North Korea, Mongolia, etc.)
 4. Eastern Europe, Russia, and Former Soviet States:
 5.India & Southeast Asia (plus South Korea):
 6. Australia, Japan & other Pacific Island States
 7. Central & South America (includes Mexico and the
Caribbean)
 8. The Middle East
 9. Africa
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As of 2000.
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