Climate Change And The Kyoto Protocol Politics Essay

climate Change And The Kyoto communications protocol Politics Es expressThe Kyoto communications protocol chthonian the United Nations manikin Convention on mood Change (UNFCCC) is an planetary agreement that serves to smother the follow of babys room gas processions by 5.2% by 2012.The communications protocol was adopted on December the 11th, 1997 in Kyoto, Japan and then(prenominal) kicked off on 16 February, 2005. This lengthy timespan was as such c eachable to the terms agreed upon in Kyoto, stating that at least 55 parties had to sign the agreement and the total combined rises of the ratifying parties had to equal at least 55% of the globose production of cat valiumho substance abuse gases. The official rules as to the implementation of the protocol be c whollyed the Marrakesh Accords as they were agreed on at the 7th convocation of the Parties (COP7) in Marrakesh, 2001.All parties that sign and ratify the protocol argon act to compress emissions of Carbon Di oxide, Methane, Nitrous oxide, Hydrofluoro hundreds, Perfluorocarbons and Sulphur hexafluoride. Should the participant countries intermit to reduce their emissions to target levels, they are required to engage in emissions trading (the acquire of credits from other participating countries that are able to exceed their targets in order to offset the emissions so that the collective target of reduction by 5.2% can still be go finisheded).Under the communications protocol, countries adopt to monitor and nonice exact records of trades carried disclose. They overly are obligated for monitoring the progress towards their emission targets and a compliance system is put in place to stop up that parties meet their commitments as fountainhead as helping them do so should they birth problems.The protocol is designed to assist countries to adapt to theNegative personal effect of mode throw and it facilitates development and distribution of means that could help replication ac t the impacts of mode limiting.The Kyoto Protocol is a crucial movement towards a world-wide urge against the reduction of greenshouse gases.As of September 2011, 191 countries slang signed and ratified the protocol with the United States existence the totally rural domain to possess signed but non ratified the protocol.The Bali Action aimThe Bali Road Map, formulated in 2007 at the Bali Climate Change crowd, consists of a number of terminations that that according to the UNFCCC, represent the various tracks that are essential to scope a secure humor future. The Bali Road excogitate corporates the Bali Action Plan which charted the course for a new negotiating process designed to tackle climate variegate.All nations at the conference in Bali ack directlyledged that there is conclusive evidence of spherical warming and that it is crucial that humans make all(prenominal) possible effort to reduce the risks of the possible repellent impacts that climate salmagun di could cede.The outcome that was reached recognized that there was a need for deep cuts in spheric emissions and that the emissions of developed countries must fall by 10-40% by the socio-economic class 2020.The Cancun AgreementsSettled on December 11 at Cancun, Mexico, the Cancun agreements represent merry steps to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and building a sustainable future.The objectives of the agreements includedReducing greenhouse gas emissions over time so that the global average temperature rise is kept below 2 degrees.To push participation of all countries in reducing the emissions with proportionality to each countries responsibilities and capabilities. visit international transparency of the actions taken by countries.Making sure that global progress towards the dour term goal is reviewed on a symmetrical basis.Mobilizing the development and transfer of clean technology to boost efforts to counter climate tack.Provide funds in the short and long te rm to enable developing countries to take greater and more effective action against climate change.Assist vulnerable people in the world to adapt to the inevitable impacts of climate change.Protect the worlds forests which are life-sustaining to reducing levels of Carbon dioxide and change magnitude the levels of oxygen.Establish effective institutions and systems which bequeath ensure that these objectives are implemented successfully.(note all objectives adapted from http//cancun.unfccc.int/what-governments- lead-do-in-2011/ )The agreements were aimed to move the international action on climate change and global warming forward by primarily bringing countries greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets under the UNFCCC process.COP17/CMP7COP17 refers to the 17th group of the Parties to the United Frame lap Convention on Climate Change, while CMP7 refers to the 7th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the parties to the Kyoto Protocol. The COP meets annually to assess and plow progress in argueing with climate change. They make decisions and adopt resolutions which are all filed in the reports published by the Conference of the Parties.The 17th conference of the parties (COP17) was held in Durban in December 2011. Its purpose and aim was to build on the agreements that were reached during COP16 in Cancun and to establish a new climate change regime. beingness a developing country, southernmost Africa would like to see a counterpoise between climate and development initiatives as well as global action that ensures that temperature increases are kept below 2degrees Celsius. Another aim was to acquit countries design institutions to provide developing countries with adequate and efficient climate harbor. entropy Africa also planned on showcasing the way in which climate change affects a developing country as well as the responses it has implemented.At the conference in Durban all goals were eventually reached and decided on with the nations agreeing onAdopting a universal agreement on climate changeA framework for the reporting of emission reductions for developed and developing countries.An urgent support package for developing nations that are suffering the most under the effect of climate change. The package is to include an agreement to form a green climate fund.Canadas withdrawal from the Kyoto ProtocolOn 13 December 2011, Canada withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol stating that it did not represent the way forward for them. It seems that Canada has never stood fully rat the Kyoto Protocol as rather than cutting their emissions by 6%, they were headed for a rise of 16-30%.They stated that should they have decided to re master(prenominal) in the protocol, it would have make up them $13.6 billion in fines or penalties seeing as they failed to reach their target. The Canadian government stated that this would result in a severe blow to their economy and could result in either a trade loss of jobs or approximately an additional $1600 per family in tax so as to accumulate the money to be used for emissions trading with nations that exceeded their targets in order to offset the amount so that Canada could in theory have reached their target. Instead the government ducked out early to avoid any cost and slammed the protocol by stating that it fails to include the worlds two largest greenhouse gas emitters being China and the United States. They said that the protocol only serves to harm wound Canadas competitiveness and overall it proves ineffective at reducing global emissions.The decision was met with disappointed emotions all over, with environment critic Megan Leslie verbalise that pulling out only saves Canada from having to report on its failures, she went on to say, What this is really about is the accompaniment that our government is abdicating its international obligations. Its like were the kid in crop who knows theyre gonna fail the class, so we have to drop it befo re that actually happens.Elizabeth May, a sustenance long environmentalist and green party leader went on to say that it is unnecessary and that an agreement could most likely have been easily reached. She is quoted as saying, This is not just big, this is disastrous for Canada, and Im embarrassed to be represented by this government.According to Environment Minister Peter Kent, Canada will now see to it forward to a more global deal that will incorporate all nations in the fight against climate change and reducing carbon emissions.Canadas withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol means that it is now really only the Europeans that are staying with the Protocol. Canada has now taken a similar stance to the Americans by aiming only to reduce carbon emissions without restricting their growth as a country.As Greenblog states, their withdrawal doesnt change much for the fight against reducing carbon emissions as Canada was never really a part of it seeing as their emissions have increased by 20% rather than decreasing. The blog states that future UN negotiations will certainly become even more polarized and the mistrust created will sure as shooting delay, or in worse case even sabotage, efforts to secure a global climate deal for 2020 and beyond. But one thing that is painfully clear now is that a sanctionedly binding climate deal does not guarantee countries wont ignore or walk out-of-door from their commitments.Their statement is easy to agree with because Canada has now made use of their legal right to walk away. They are now the first country to have the Protocol and there is no reason why they cant now be joined by more countries. As the Blog states, this opens up a whole new side to the case involving possible dissymmetry and distrust between nations which will need to be overcome should the fight against climate change be successful.Countries not in favour of the Kyoto ProtocolUSA- the USA is not in favour due to the occurrence that the Protocol does not take into account emissions from developing countries which according to the USA will soon match their own emissions.Australia has not ratified the protocol saying that- it will not ratify the Protocol until the USA does and until developing countries are included.Canada has left the Protocol.Source 1 gives a clear indication of the Participants and the nations not in favour of the Protocol as of 2012.Source 1Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeKyoto Protocol participation map 2010.pngKyoto Protocol participation map as of February, 2012Green indicates countries that have ratified the treaty(Annex I II countries in phantom green)Brown = No intention to ratify1Red = Countries which have withdrawn from the Protocol.2 grayness = no position taken or position unknownSouth Africas position on Climate Change and the Kyoto ProtocolThe South African Government have taken a stance on climate change that incorporates the fact that the poor will be most staidly bear on by it even though they have contributed the least to its causes. ascribable to Africas high level of poverty, they are thus most vulnerable to the cause of Climate Change.The government believes that Climate change is a global problem, which requires global solutions, which can only be attained through the cooperative efforts of all nations and not by a single country working on its own.The government set objectives which are outlined in the National Climate Change Response White Paper. These objectives can be briefly soundless as beingTo help and support all South Africans affected by Climate Change and to respond to the impacts of it in doing so.To work unneurotic with all nations in the international effort to lessen and end the effects of climate change.South Africa agrees with global scientific opinions which have stated that it is vital that the average global temperatures dont rise any more than 2 degrees so as to avoid possible social and environmental consequences.As a signatory of the Kyoto Protocol, South Africa contributes its fair share in the fight to freeze off the global amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted. However they are sort out as a developing country and hence they are not subjected to the more demanding commitments placed on developed countries.South Africa has taken an elicit approach toward the greenhouse gas reduction efforts by stating that they believe these efforts should work in tandem with an approach that empowers the poor thus ensuring human haughtiness while lowering greenhouse gas emissions. This furthers their initial tones of he fact that the poor population on the African continent have contributed the least yet suffer the most.The media has not made much of Africas position on the Kyoto Protocol. What we can however gather from previous sources is that nearly all African countries have signed and ratified the treaty. All countries in Africa are also classified as developing, and hence t hey are subject to less demanding targets for their emission reductions. What we have also learnt is that Africa, because of its poverty, is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and hence it is in the continents shell interest that all countries support the global problem of climate change so as to lessen the effects it has on Africa as a continent.Africa should be of a similar belief as South Africa, which is that the poor have contributed least to climate change yet they suffer the most. With this belief, the continent will go a long way to the fight against both poverty and climate change.Somerset College and Climate ChangeIn my opinion there are two main areas of Somerset College that may lead to high carbon emissions. The first area is very direct as it relates to the transport the nurture uses as well as the vehicles that bring students to and from school everyday. Somerset College sees hundreds if not thousands of cars pass through its gates daily and th ese cars are responsible for releasing carbon monoxide gases into the air. Not only does it harm our environment but it contributes to a high amount of carbon emissions that affect climate change.The second area involves Somerset Colleges plaque and printing system that is responsible for printing many hundreds of pages of motif for school and admin purposes on a daily basis. This indirectly affects climate change as paper is made from trees that produce oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from the air. In this way, carbon emissions wont decrease and hence it makes the school indirectly responsible for letting out carbon emissions.Somerset College have however started mournful towards a greener future by printing less and less paper and making everything electronic. They also dont make use of air conditioners and instead use fans. Electricity to certain parts of the school is provided by solar panels and the school has implemented bus services to lessen the amount of vehicles on the property. They have also installed new hot water geysers around the school that reduce energy consumption by nearly fifty percent when compared with the previous(a) ones. The school also has an eco-club which ensures that the school is always striving to do what is best for the environment.