What is the Kyoto Protocol?
I note with interest this morning that the Australian has a front page story on the move towards Nuclear plants in Australia ... Looking back on my post before last, about the same, all I can say, predictable...
I don't want to go on with that here because I'd love you to leave your comment on that post if you have a view on it. I didn't get as many as I had hoped - why? Because I'm a journalist and I would have turned them into an article for a magazine. Imagine your words made famous ... yes, I confess I was interviewing you all, still am.
What I want to talk about on this post is this; Why aren't we a part of the Kyoto protocol and why 'we the people' aren't pushing it at election tme?
I'm thinking of an article on what people really think about it and would really love your views, does everyone understand what it is about? How many of you really know what the Kyoto Protocol stands for (or entail).
I'd love to hear your view - if you can tear yourselves away from all that study and sex for a minute, that is.
Thank you.
The Envirowarrior
Good luck witht he study btw ...
I don't want to go on with that here because I'd love you to leave your comment on that post if you have a view on it. I didn't get as many as I had hoped - why? Because I'm a journalist and I would have turned them into an article for a magazine. Imagine your words made famous ... yes, I confess I was interviewing you all, still am.
What I want to talk about on this post is this; Why aren't we a part of the Kyoto protocol and why 'we the people' aren't pushing it at election tme?
I'm thinking of an article on what people really think about it and would really love your views, does everyone understand what it is about? How many of you really know what the Kyoto Protocol stands for (or entail).
I'd love to hear your view - if you can tear yourselves away from all that study and sex for a minute, that is.
Thank you.
The Envirowarrior
Good luck witht he study btw ...
Thanks for throwing this one on the table. People should find out about it and ask themselves why the US and Australia have not signed it yet.
It means that corporations, agencies, groups and individuals would agree to cut down on carbon emissions on a nation-wide basis... that's the short form. Wikipedia offers a basic outline if people are interested.
LaurenD
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
Not as populated as America, Australia is already a major contributor on a global pro-rata ppm (parts per million) scale, despite it's relative smallness of population. I cannot for the life of me think of why two such strong economies would refrain from joining in on this one as it is really not invisible anymore, especially when Carbon Credits can offer so much revenue.
Anyone have a thoery on it, please pass it on, I'd love to hear it?
Thanks again LaurenD, I really enjoyed your last post, keep them coming.
Lilla.
So many of these corporations are filling the pockets of our American politicians, giving them $$$ to maintain their status, run ad campaigns, etc. Certain corporations lobby and put pressure on the congressmen, who in trun put pressure on the Bush administration.
Bloody Republicans. Time to flush them out.
Now why Australia hasn't signed makes me look at the relationship Bush has with Howard. Makes me suspicious. I wonder what backroom dealings have gone on there.
LaurenD
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
Thanks for the insight on the US take on this, Hmmm interesting.
As for Australia, that is what really intrigues me and as good as I believe my journalistic prowess to be, I cannot make 'real' headway on bringing this to some light. Just snippets here and there ..... just snippets.
I've had an idea about money all day for a new post, thanks.
Lilla.
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
The Kyoto Protocol is an agreement made under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 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.
The Kyoto Protocol now covers more than 160 countries globally (not including the United States and Australia) and over 55% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
At its heart, Kyoto establishes the following principles:
Kyoto is underwritten by governments and is governed by global legislation enacted under the UN’s aegis
Governments are separated into two general categories: developed countries, referred to as Annex 1 countries (who have accepted GHG emission reduction obligations); and developing countries, referred to as Non-Annex 1 countries (who have no GHG emission reduction obligations)
Any Annex 1 country that fails to meet its Kyoto target will be penalised by having its reduction targets decreased by 30% in the next period.
By 2008-2012, Annex 1 countries have to reduce their GHG emissions by around 5% below their 1990 levels (for many countries, such as the EU member states, this corresponds to some 15% below their expected GHG emissions in 2008). Reduction targets expire in 2013.
Kyoto includes "flexible mechanisms" which allow Annex 1 economies to meet their GHG targets by purchasing GHG emission reductions from elsewhere. These can be bought either from financial exchanges (such as the new EU Emissions Trading Scheme) or from projects which reduce emissions in non-Annex 1 economies under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), or in other Annex-1 countries under the JI.
Only CDM Executive Board-accredited Certified Emission Reductions (CER) can be bought and sold in this manner. Under the aegis of the UN, Kyoto established this Bonn-based Clean Development Mechanism Executive Board to assess and approve projects (“CDM Projects”) in Non-Annex 1 economies prior to awarding CERs. (A similar scheme called “Joint Implementation” or “JI” applies in transitional economies mainly covering the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe).
What this means in practice is that Non-Annex 1 economies have no GHG emission restrictions, but when a GHG emission reduction project (a “GHG Project”) is implemented in these countries, that GHG Project will receive Carbon Credits which can be sold to Annex 1 buyers.
The Kyoto linking mechanisms are in place for two main reasons:
the cost of complying with Kyoto is prohibitive for many Annex 1 countries (especially those countries, such as Japan or the Netherlands for example, with highly efficient, low GHG polluting industries, and high prevailing environmental standards). Kyoto therefore allows these countries to purchase Carbon Credits instead of reducing GHG emissions domestically; and,
this is seen as a means of encouraging Non-Annex 1 developing economies to reduce GHG emissions since doing so is now economically viable because of the sale of Carbon Credits.
All the Annex 1 economies have established Designated National Authorities to manage their GHG portfolios under Kyoto. Countries including Japan, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain and many more, are actively promoting government carbon funds and supporting multilateral carbon funds intent on purchasing Carbon Credits from Non-Annex 1 countries. These government organizations are working closely with their major utility, energy, oil & gas and chemicals conglomerates to try to acquire as many GHG Certificates as cheaply as possible.
Virtually all of the Non-Annex 1 countries have also set up their own Designated National Authorities to manage the Kyoto process (and specifically the “CDM process” whereby these host government entities decide which GHG Projects they do or do not wish to support for accreditation by the CDM Executive Board).
The objectives of these opposing groups are quite different. Annex 1 entities want Carbon Credits as cheaply as possible, whilst Non-Annex 1 entities want to maximise the value of Carbon Credits generated from their domestic GHG Projects.
Courtesy Wikipeadia