The Green

Kyoto Protocol = "a protocol to the international Framework Convention on Climate Change with the objective of reducing Greenhouse gases that cause climate change. It was agreed on 11 December 1997 at the 3rd Conference of the Parties to the treaty when they met in Kyoto, and entered into force on 16 February 2005.

"As stated in the treaty itself, the objective of the Kyoto Protocol is to achieve 'stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.'

"As of November 2007, 174 parties have ratified the protocol. Of these, 36 countries (plus the EU as a party in its own right) are required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the levels specified for each of them in the treaty (representing over 61.6% of emissions from Annex I countries) [2] [3], with three more countries intending to participate[4]. A notable exception is the United States. One hundred thirty seven (137) countries have ratified the protocol, but have no obligation beyond monitoring and reporting emissions.

"Among various experts, scientists and critics there is some debate about the usefulness of the protocol, and there have been cost-benefit studies performed on its usefulness."
(Wikipedia) [en.wikipedia.org]

Most of today's leaders are meeting in Bali this month (December 2007) for an enormous climate conference. The main objective of the summit is to arrive at a first draft of a treaty to succeed the Kyoto Protocol. The US was one of the few industrialized countries steadfast in its refusal to sign the Kyoto Protocol.
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