What is the Kyoto Protocol? How has this accord impacted worldwide policies regarding greenhouse gas emissions?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

A number of international conferences have resulted in an agreement to voluntarily limit greenhouse gas emissions. This agreement, which is called the Kyoto Protocol (because it was created at an international conference held in 1997 in Kyoto, Japan), sets target reductions for each country. For example, the treaty states that industrialized countries (such as the United States, which constitutes only about 5% of world population but is responsible for about 16% of worldwide carbon dioxide emissions) must reduce their collective emission of six greenhouse gases by at least 5% by 2012 compared to 1990 levels. Even though 2012 has passed and reductions were not met, the treaty has been extended for another five to eight years to encourage compliance. Not all countries are in agreement with the treaty's goals. For example, 122 nations (representing 44% of the total worldwide carbon dioxide emissions) ratified the treaty, but the US government never formally agreed to the protocol, citing potential harm to the world economy. Further, the United States has lagged behind other countries in establishing emission reductions of greenhouse gases. But the United States is not alone: In 2011, Canada became the first country to withdraw from the Kyoto Protocol.