for a better greener earth
The Kyoto Conference on World Climate Change
On December 1st, 1997 the representatives of one hundred and fifty countries met in Kyoto, Japan to discuss climate change with the presumptuous goal of deciding the fate of world's climate in the coming millennium. The result of the deliberations was somewhat disappointing. The delegates agreed upon a minor reduction of greenhouse gases emission into the atmosphere.
conference in Kyoto on December 1st included two thousands delegates from 150 countries that met under the sponsorship of the United Nations. The Kyoto Conference was a direct continuation of the Earth Summit held in Rio five years earlier in 1992. The delegations in Kyoto Conference were meant to check how closely the protocol of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit was applied. The Kyoto Conference focused on climate change and on devising fixed and limiting standards to greenhouse gases emission (mainly carbon dioxide and methane created by industrial and agricultural intense activity).
The parties to the Kyoto Conference consisted of NGO's representatives, countries that were genuinely concerned by climate change and global warming and major oil exporting countries.
The latter, the oil exporting countries such as Russia or Venezuela, did strongly object to any reduction of greenhouse gases. From their point of view, any reduction may lead to diminishing oil export (oil products are number one cause of greenhouse gases emission into the atmosphere) and thus to negative economic results. Those countries claimed that the aspects of climate change and global warming are uncertain. Scientists do not share a consensus of opinion and there is no need to endanger world's economy as a result of unproven theories. On the contrary, countries like Japan and European Union members are strong supporters of reducing greenhouse gases emission to around 80 per cent of their current rates of emission.
It will be important to note the European Union countries are in a better economic position that allows them to demand a reduction in greenhouse gases emission. The collapse of East Germany in 1990 eliminated most of the polluting industries in this country including many power stations operating on fossil fuels, ie. Coal and oil. In addition, the breaking of the British coal unions' political power in the mid 1980's allowed Britain to shift its energy consumption to the much cleaner natural gas. And finally, the European countries in Kyoto Conference were backed by strong domestic green organizations (especially France and Germany).
Another voice was heard in the Kyoto Conference – the voice of the small island countries in the Caribbean area and in the Pacific Ocean. Those countries are afraid that the emission of greenhouse gases which will probably lead to global warming will result in sea level rise and in the flooding of their territories.
After temperamental discussions accompanied by bitter controversy the Kyoto Conference ended with a compromise in what is known as the Kyoto Protocol to the Prevention of World Climate Change:
By the year 2012, the industrial countries will lower the emission of green house gases by 5.2 per cent in relation to the 1990 rates of emission. Europe will lower by 8 per cent, The USA by 7 per cent and Japan by 6 per cent. The developing countries are not obligated to make any changes for the time being. The protocol requires the ratification of the participating countries.
02.05.2008. 00:58
For a better greener earth !