Global Warming: Our Planet at Stake

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported recently that the 20^th century was the hottest of the last one thousand years. Six of the 10 warmest years ever recorded were in the 1990s; the other four were in the 1980s. Europe's winter is now 11 days shorter than it was 35 years ago. The Arctic ice cover is at the same time shrinking by an area the size of the Netherlands each year. Further south, Europe's largest glacier, the Breidamerkurjoll in Iceland, is expected to slide into the Atlantic within five years. In the last 100 years, the sea level has already risen by about 7 inches, wiping up miles of land, and it is expected to rise more in the future leading to the actual submergence of islands. By the year 2080, Manhattan and Shanghai could be underwater. Moreover, storms, droughts, and floods could become more extreme than they already are, and this is also attributed to the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs). As a matter of fact, climate change is considered to be the most serious threat to the world's environment, affecting human health, food security, economic activity, natural resources, and physical infrastructure. Unless curbed, global warming is to be the fatal catastrophe of our era.

Disappointment in New Delhi

In this regard, The Eighth Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP8) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was held from October 23^rd to November 1^st in New Delhi, India. 185 member states of the UN climate change convention met to discuss the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. Disappointedly, after the 10-day conference, the world environmental leaders agreed on a joint climate-change declaration that failed to make any reference to future cuts on greenhouse gas emissions under the 1997 protocol; the declaration urged all nations to ratify the protocol. The Delhi Declaration included technical issues such as methods to measure emission of greenhouse gases, cooperation between the rich and poor countries over climate change and said environmental policies should take economic and social development into account.

The Kyoto Protocol

Aiming at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and curbing global warming, the Kyoto agreement was reached five years ago (December 11^th, 1997 to be exact) during the COP3 in Kyoto, Japan. It implied that industrialized countries would cut their greenhouse gas emissions by more than 5% below their 1990 emissions level by the year 2012.

The protocol will not come into force until it is ratified by 55% of the nations responsible for at least 55% of the total greenhouse gas emissions of 1990. Developed nations, the major releasers of greenhouse gases and the more significant contributors to global warming, are required to reduce their consumption of fossil fuels substantially so that the goals of Kyoto can be achieved. On the other hand, third world countries, which are still pushing their way towards development, would set voluntary emission-reduction targets; they are not bound to cutting GHG emissions.

According to the so-called flexibility mechanisms, the Kyoto Protocol allows countries to meet their emission-reduction goals by buying unused emission credits from other countries that emit less than their targets, or from developing countries that can verify reductions below projected levels.

Global Warming: Causes and Solutions

Although greenhouse gases are natural gases that maintain the earth's temperature, an excess of those gases, resulting from human activities, raises the temperature in the atmosphere and leads to global warming.

So what are the human activities that release greenhouse gases?

1. Burning fossil fuels to produce electricity, power factories, and to carry out a wide range of vital human tasks. The use of fossil fuels accounts for three fourths of manmade carbon dioxide emissions.
2. Deforestation: Deforestation results in an increase of atmospheric carbon dioxide as forests normally absorb this greenhouse gas in the course of photosynthesis.
3. Accumulation of animal manure, which lets off methane-another greenhouse gas. Methane is emitted from the manure during storage in lagoons or concrete tanks.

Putting a stop to the process of global warming may be achieved simply through reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases that cause the greenhouse effect. This is why the Kyoto protocol was adopted: basically, to cut the use of fossil fuels and stop the destruction of forests. Fossil fuels can be replaced with clean sources of renewable energy like solar energy and wind. For the inevitable use of fossil fuels, energy-efficient industry should be encouraged. Filtration systems should be installed to help remove waste substances before they reach drainage systems. Advanced recycling systems also help reduce the amount of waste.

Industrialized countries that have spent decades enhancing their industries and polluting the planet should be held accountable by establishing environmentally friendly systems that cut the use of fossil fuels and release smaller amounts of greenhouse gases.

The US: Key Emitter and Kyoto Rejecter

US emissions of greenhouse gases in million metric tons of gas.
(Source: Infoplease.com)

With only 4% of the world's population, the United States - the world's single largest emitter of greenhouse gases - accounts for 25% of the world's GHGs. Although former US President Bill Clinton was one of the proponents of the Kyoto protocol (Bill Clinton actually signed the protocol), his successor, George W. Bush has rejected the protocol claiming that it goes against American national interests.

Just after he held office, Bush discarded the treaty arguing that, because of scientific uncertainties, global warming may not be a real problem! When he later received a National Academy of Sciences Report affirming the dangers of GHGs and global warming, the President started to accept the fact that global warming is real. Nevertheless, he still rejects the Kyoto agreement saying that its implementation would harm the American economy. With light shed again on the critical environmental issue at New Delhi in the COP8, Bush has reasserted his position against the agreement.

Not only is the Bush administration against Kyoto, US legislators are also under great pressure from lobbying groups representing domestic energy and automotive industries.

Taking into consideration that Kyoto won't be binding until it is ratified by 55% of the carbon dioxide emitter countries, and that the US is responsible for about one quarter of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, the American stance is a major obstacle to the eradication of global warming, something that is threatening the whole planet.

International Support for Kyoto

Apart from the American position, other countries of the world have realized the risks that global warming cause, and they are thus calling for the implementation of Kyoto. Canada, which previously backed the US in its refusal to execute the pact's recommendations, now holds a different view as it has promised to ratify the Kyoto protocol. Similarly, China, Japan, as well as Russia, are for taking quick actions towards reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The treaty has also been adopted by the 15 country members of the European Union. It is worth mentioning here that the European Union's carbon dioxide releases make up 24.2% of the world's emissions of carbon dioxide, with China at 14%, and Russia at 6% of the world's emissions. With these major GHG- emitter countries aware of the risks of global warming, the Kyoto protocol is expected to meet its prerequisite conditions and to take effect next year.

The Kyoto Protocol and Developing Countries

Since the onset of the Industrial Revolution in the 17^th century, European nations have made rapid progress in terms of industrial development, discharging all kinds of greenhouse gases and leading to their accumulation in the atmosphere, which effectively led to the widening of the hole in the ozone layer and the existence of the global warming phenomenon. While moving forward in the industrialization process, the developed countries exploited the resources of the developing ones thus hindering their development. This is why the Kyoto protocol's emissions reduction targets are only binding to the industrialized developed countries. Flexibility with developing nations in environmental issues will help them advance to the stage that would later allow them to move to a greener way of development.

While curbing global warming involves a lot of difficulties, the issue is really genuine and its perils are not affordable; for this sake, the whole world should cooperate.

Sources:

• ABCNEWS.com, "Stop Global Warming or
  NY Submerges - Greenpace."
  
• Environmental News Network,
  "Rich Gave in at Climate Talk to Protect Kyoto Pact."
  
• BBC News, "Global Warming."
  
• Cambridge Scientific Abstracts,
  "Global Warming and the Kyoto Protocol."
  
• Facts, "U.N. Global Warming Conference Held in Kyoto,
  Japan; Treaty Sets First Global Emissions Limits."
  
• Natural Resources Defense Council,
  "Global Warming in Depth."
  
• The Texas A&M University System,
  Texas Animal Manure Management Issues (TAMMI).
  
• Transform Compost Systems,
  "Animal Manure as a source of Greenhouse Gas."
  
• VOA News, "US Stands Fast against Kyoto
  Protocol at India Climate Conference."
  
• Infoplease.
  

Sara Khorshidis staff writer for IslamOnline. She holds a BA in Political Science from Cairo University and is currently studying for an MA in Political Theory. You can reach her at sarakhorshid@islam-online.net.