The polar bears die (see post immediately below), a sign of our devastation of the environment, but we do nothing? Is doing nothing a moral option at this point? Don't we owe ourselves, our children/grandchildren, our God, more? Or will we sacrifice all on the altar of economic growth?
GP
The 1 degree rise in global temperatures in the past century has in most part been ascribed to the atmospheric accumulation of carbon dioxide and other heat trapping gases. These gases are the waste products from industries like power plants, automobiles and other fossil fuel burning industries. The United Stats is the largest producer of these gases followed by China, Russia and India.
The Kyoto Protocol which was signed in 1997 had been one of the few global efforts to curb greenhouse gases. Under the protocol, 35 industrialized nations were bound to reduce greenhouse emission by 5 per cent below the 1990 levels by the year 2012. The protocol had not forced a cut on developing countries like China or India.
The US has been the strongest opponent of the Protocol and has not signed it, stating that it would affect the economy of the country. They also wanted the developing countries to be included in the cutbacks. Australia also refused to sign the pact with similar reasons. The idea behind the protocol was that the developed nations should carry the economic weight of reducing emissions till the developing nations reached the level where they could do the same. But both the US and Australia have been skeptical about the developing nations ever doing so. They expect a new form of the treaty which includes all.
The Kyoto Protocol which was signed in 1997 had been one of the few global efforts to curb greenhouse gases. Under the protocol, 35 industrialized nations were bound to reduce greenhouse emission by 5 per cent below the 1990 levels by the year 2012. The protocol had not forced a cut on developing countries like China or India.
The US has been the strongest opponent of the Protocol and has not signed it, stating that it would affect the economy of the country. They also wanted the developing countries to be included in the cutbacks. Australia also refused to sign the pact with similar reasons. The idea behind the protocol was that the developed nations should carry the economic weight of reducing emissions till the developing nations reached the level where they could do the same. But both the US and Australia have been skeptical about the developing nations ever doing so. They expect a new form of the treaty which includes all.
Source: Earth Times
No comments:
Post a Comment