What is Kyoto Protocol?
- United Nations treaty on the topic of climate change
- Holds developing countries accountable for the increase in greenhouse gases
- Countries must meet a certain level of reduction of their greenhouse gas emissions
- Joint implementation, Clean Development Mechanism, and International Emissions Trading, as well as monitoring of emissions help countries to get to their target
Controversy
The protocol is not easily adaptable to all countries and there are some grey areas to it. Many are opposed to the protocol or want changes to be made.
Problems with the protocol:
Problems with the protocol:
- people are reluctant to support it, because it implies that global warming exists and it is caused by humans
- countries with many carbon sinks are trying to use that as an option
- there is no punishment for not meeting the goals
- there is no set reduction in the emissions for each country