Real Battle Against Global Warming Has Yet to Come

The Kyoto Protocol, which had been signed by 128 nations, was designed to promote the lessening of emissions of greenhouse gases by member nations by 5.2 percent below the 1990 standards between 2008 and 2012. These cuts, which the head of the organization referred to as "low-hanging fruits" (in that they are easy to reach), were regarded by President Bush as being too drastic. Consequently, he pulled the United States out of the treaty in 2001. However, Klaus Toepfer, head of the U.N. Environment Programme, considers the Kyoto Protocol as a mere step in the battle against global warming. The truly difficult part has yet to come. The ultimate goal is to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent by 2050, and a large part of that plan is getting the United States on board. The U.S. is the world's top emitter of carbon dioxide, the gas most often cited as a cause of global warming. As of now, Washington is making no promises.

Read the whole story