Kyoto Protocol

The Kyoto Protocol is an agreement that encompasses all those industrial countries that are ready to commit themselves to reducing emission of gases; the treaty sets limits on gas emissions that will help countries protect the earth's atmosphere. In contemporary times, there are several ways in which the human race is at risk.

One of these risks includes the rising global temperature that is greatly impacted by gases released into the atmosphere. An organized effort is the most appropriate means to curtain a situation that endangers the human race. In view of the dangers posed by global warming, a treaty known as the Kyoto Protocol has been designed to help lower emission of dangerous gases that are responsible for global warming and rapid destruction of the atmosphere. It is an amendment of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which was an original treaty on global warming. The Kyoto Protocol reaffirms major portions of the UNFCCC, to which several industrialized countries have agreed. Countries that agree to the Protocol have committed themselves to reduce emission of dangerous gases or engage in emissions trading if they maintain or increase emissions of these gases.

The formal name of the protocol briefly described above is Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change . The original draft for the Kyoto Protocol took place at United Nations Headquarters in New York (May 9, 1992). Even though the protocol has received substantial support from over 150 countries in 1993, it will be enforced in February 16, 2005.

When enforced, the Kyoto Protocol will limit the emission of gases into the atmosphere. It basically takes into account all the industrialized nations that produce large amounts of Carbon Dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, Sulphur hexafluoride, HFCs, and CFCs. There are particular levels set for each industrialized country encompassed by the Protocol, and they are committed to meeting their targets. In addition to this, if a country can control its emission of gasses below the limit provided, it can stand to gain environmentally by maintaining a cleaner atmosphere, and also gain economically under 'Emissions Trading.'

'Emissions trading' refers to the margin that a country may sell to another to another country in the treaty. This can only take place in a situation where a country in the treaty has a lower emissions margin than the margin allowed by the protocol; the difference between the emissions and level and the limit can be sold. Russia is an example of a country within the treaty that can afford to conduct an emissions trade.

Aside from the national level support or opposition of the Kyoto Protocol, it is apparent that there are pressure groups that have set to work on federal authorities. In the US, there are business organizations that oppose the Kyoto Protocol because it is misleading and will take the US of the developmental track they have recently been on.

In view of the current conditions of pollution in several areas of the United States, there are apparently many who are aware of this opportunity (signing the Kyoto Protocol) to safeguard the future of the country environmentally speaking. However, there are also organizations that oppose the United States signing the Kyoto Protocol. One particular organization is the national Association of Manufacturers (NAM), which has operated in favor of the US economy since 1895 and has managed to secure business conditions for companies in the US.

NAM supports the progress that America has had economically and believes that this prosperity is in sync with health and protection of the environment. However, they hold that signing the Kyoto Protocol is a mistake because it is flawed because of the fact that it does not encompass developing countries. They argue that this automatically means that the US and other developed countries will take the load for the developing countries. The severity of the damage that signing the Kyoto Protocol will have, includes a damaged US economy. They further believe that this damage would be cause without even achieving any improvements in the environment condition.

In addition to this, NAM urges Congress to ignore the Kyoto Protocol and begin working on environmental policies that would suit the country better. In view of the opposition that the Kyoto Protocol has faced from those who favor maintaining economic growth in the US, it is unlikely that America would sign it.