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Professor Hess
English 101
6 December 2012
The American Aversion to Global Environmental Treaties: Problems With The Kyoto Protocol
During the middle of the 1980s, the world began to recognize the dangers of man-made
greenhouse gas emissions. New scientific evidence showed the damage of these man-made
greenhouse gas emissions and parts of the world decided to change environmental policies. The
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) decided to lower the
greenhouse gas emissions by 2000. However, in December 1997, 167 countries met in Kyoto,
Japan to create a new treaty on climate change (Dupler 959). By following the treaty, each
country would lower greenhouse gas emissions by 2012. However, only each individual country
decides if they would like to participate in the treaty. America does respect its environment, as
exhibited by their preservation of national parks, but has not signed the treaty. The nation has the
opportunity to sign the Kyoto Protocol, but the country does not agree with the Kyoto Protocol’s
rules. America will not join the Kyoto Protocol because the treaty could potentially damage its
economy, new greenhouse technologies already reduce the nation’s carbon footprint, and
environmental agreements with America are formed without the requirements of the treaty.
The Kyoto Protocol would not exist without the understanding of Global Warming.
When hot air is trapped in the atmosphere, greenhouse gases form (EPA pt. 1). Life needs carbon
dioxide to function, but when fossil fuels burn, solid waste excretes, and trees breathe, it carries
carbon dioxide into the atmosphere (EPA pt. 1). Additionally, methane is released into the
atmosphere as more coal, natural gases, and oil are produced (EPA pt. 1). The last two elements
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that make up the greenhouse gases are nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases, which form through
industrialization (EPA pt. 1). By 2010, there were 6,822 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions
(EPA pt. 1). Like many scientists of the world, Kyoto questions how many of these gases are
constantly in the environment. The gases are essentially abundant. They remain in the air from a
few years to thousands of years (EPA pt. 1). Since the years of these gases vary, some of these
gases are more dangerous than others. However, each gas is responsible for changing the
atmosphere. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, the climate changes were explained by natural
causes, such as volcanoes (Soyez, Grassl 221). However, the climate changes today could not be
explained by natural causes because the climate changes too rapidly. The Kyoto Protocol, and
America for that matter, understands humans are harming the environment. Therefore, the Kyoto
Protocol tries to cut the greenhouse emissions through human interactions.
The Kyoto Protocol was originally designed to reduce the radical changes of the climate
through multiple countries. Since the climate affects the world as a whole, Kyoto thought of a
potential negotiation with countries that would cut down these man-made emissions. Since
December 1977, most of the European Union takes interest the Kyoto Protocol (Dupler 959). As
of 2010, 187 countries have signed the treaty. The treaty was originally supposed to cut down at
least 30% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2012, but was supposed to end in 2012. However, due
to new policies within the Kyoto Protocol, the treaty exists today as of February 13, 2012
(Carbonell 85). The Quantified Emissions Limitation or Reduction Objective (QELRO), which is
based on the European Union Climate, helps provide new technology and scientific evidence that
convinces countries to join the Kyoto Protocol (Dupler 959). Together, QELRO and the
European Union give questioning countries input as to whether the Kyoto Protocol works
(Dupler 959). They say the greenhouse gas emissions will still be cut by 30% and the new plan
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will cost less (Carbonell 85). Although the Kyoto Protocol’s new plan continues to help the
climate and is less costly, America still refuses to join the treaty.
The Kyoto Protocol plans to reduce 30% of greenhouse gas emissions, but America still
believes the treaty will be too expensive. Originally, the Clinton Administration showed interest
in the treaty (Dupler 959). However, the Republican Party heavily dominated the Senate, so
Kyoto was ignored (Dupler 959). By the Bush Administration, the Kyoto Protocol was dead in
America (Dupler 959). Bush said the Kyoto Protocol would cost $400 billion and 4.9 million
jobs if America were to join the Kyoto Protocol (Dupler 959). However, some argue his plan of
using specific new greenhouse technology would increase the greenhouse gases emissions by
2012 (Dupler 959). The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) constantly provides
scientific data of climate change, but ExxonMobil even doubts the claims (Dupler 959).
However, ExxonMobil is the largest oil company in the world, and therefore could be biased
since they release methane into the environment. America also argues that larger countries,
rather than developing countries, have more of an advantage in the Kyoto Protocol. The nation
says developing nations will never “catch up to richer nations” unless they “pollute” as much as
richer nations, which makes these nations rich in the first place (Dupler 959). Therefore,
America looks at the treaty as a threat to its own nation, and finds the treaty harmful to other
economies as well. The claims of the Kyoto Protocol meeting in 2012 are still not enough to
convince America that the treaty will not damage its economy.
America uses new greenhouse technology without the help of the Kyoto Protocol. Trees
and plants are able to fix greenhouse gases through the process of photosynthesis, or rather C
(carbon) sequestration (Dupler 959). The Kyoto Protocol believes by having an increase in C
sequestration, the greenhouse emissions could be cut down. However, the United States already
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increases C sequestration. The nation increases C sequestration in dry and tropical areas through
new agricultural techniques, pasture use, and forestry (Dupler 959). The Kyoto Protocol, like
America, would increase C sequestration, but article 3.4 states that new, developing countries
would have even more requirements than the United States (Dupler 959). Therefore, America
ignores Kyoto and continues to produce its own technology to reduce the greenhouse gas
emissions. For example, the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Strategic
Sustainability Performance Plan lays fundamental rules to save the environment (United States
Environmental Protection Agency 18). One section discusses the importance of water
conservation. In January 2007, environmental officials began to implement new ideas to use
water as alternate sources (United States Environmental Protection Agency 19). The goal is to
reduce the “water intensity” 2% each year by 2015 (United States Environmental Protection
Agency 19). Through the process of limiting the amount of water used year-round, the EPA
discovers new ways to save water through green technologies. Currently, the EPA has
established over 2,600 green roofs, and discovered how to collect rooftop runoff in order to reuse
rainwater (United States Environmental Protection Agency 19). The EPA also has advanced
recycle programs to reduce waste (United States Environmental Protection Agency 19).
Therefore, the EPA independently creates new green projects without the Kyoto Protocol.
Additionally, America works with private sectors to fix the climate. These private sectors are
voluntary, but they have saved over 345 million metric tons of greenhouse gases (Dupler 959).
Lastly, the EPA currently supports new energy-efficient cars. According to the EPA, consumers
will save $1.7 trillion by the pump (EPA pt. 1). Therefore, the United States finds no purpose to
join the Kyoto Protocol because they are already developing new greenhouse technology.
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Environmental agreements within America are decided without the Kyoto Protocol.
Originally, Canada joined the Kyoto Protocol, but they backed out partly because of the
California and Quebec Trade-and-Cap Programs (Carbonell 87). The Kyoto Protocol continues
to have high ambitions, but too many political agreements are made without the treaty. Together,
Canada and California link their GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions, allowing offset credits to be
used in both programs (Carbonell 87). They have the same reporting standards, coordination of
credit, and hold joint auctions (Carbonell 87). The program between Canada and California
explains one reason why Canada withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol. The United States
continuously notices the gaps between the rich and developing countries. America believes there
are too many countries involved, and therefore, this treaty will not be effective. America also
recognizes first-world countries will continue to have advantages over developing countries
because of their money and advanced technology. Like the Kyoto Project, America is potentially
involved in the LOST (Law of Sea Treaty) agreement. The treaty acts as the “backdoor Kyoto,”
and gives certain rights to each nation (Adams pt. 1). LOST would let the United States claim
their Artic territories, provide new undersea cables so the country stays in global contact, be safe
when traveling in waters, and sell minerals (Adams pt. 1). Therefore, America shows a higher
interest in strictly limited treaties, rather than a giant treaty like Kyoto. An additional problem to
the Kyoto Protocol is certain countries will not join, unless powerful countries sign the treaty
(Dupler 959). The United States could offer many environmental plans to other countries, but the
individual country prefers not to interact with this global policy. The Kyoto Protocol would like
every nation to be equal and environmentally stable, but America decides its own environmental
policies without the guidance of Kyoto.
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The United States does not sign the Kyoto Protocol because the treaty remains too
expensive for the nation’s economy, new green technologies are already used, and its
environmental agreements are made without the requirements of the treaty. The Kyoto Protocol
has the potential of lowering the greenhouse gas emissions by 30% through the care of other
countries, but America remains far too skeptical. America recognizes the seriousness of global
warming, but decides to fix the greenhouse gas emissions without the help of this international
treaty. Although not every country is a part of the Kyoto Protocol, most countries are beginning
to act more environmentally consciousness, which could be the greatest achievement of this
global attempt.
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Works Cited
Adams, Becket. "Backdoor Kyoto Protocol." The Blaze. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2012.
Carbonell, Tomás. "Current Developments in Carbon & Climate Law: North America."Carbon
& Climate Law Review 1 (2012): 85-88. Web.
Dupler, Douglas. Kyoto Protocol Treaty. 4th ed. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2011. Print.
"Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gases Overview." EPA. Environmental Protection
Agency, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2012.
Soyez, Konrad, and H. Grassl. Climate Change and Technological Options : Basic Facts,
Evaluation and Practical Solutions. N.p.: n.p., 2008. EBSCO Host. Web.
"U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan." 2010. TS.
N.p.