Global warming is a hotly debated issue. Some scientists and environmentalists believe we are on the verge of massive global climate change that will result in chaotic weather patterns and catastrophic droughts all caused by an increase in global average temperature. These experts support laws to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that humans produce in the hope that this will slow global warming. Others however, believe that global warming doesn't even exist. They say global warming is a naturally occurring phenomena. Mandates to control greenhouse gas emissions are expensive and unnecessary. The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works is evaluating the current policies on global warming for the United States.

1992- The United States and nations from around the world met at the United Nations Earth Summit in Rio and agreed to voluntarily reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2000. The Rio Treaty was not legally binding and, because reducing emissions would likely cause great economic damage, many nations will not meet the goal.

Representatives from around the world met in December of 1997 at a conference in Kyoto to sign a revised agreement. The Clinton Administration negotiators agreed to legally binding, internationally enforceable limits on the emission of greenhouse gases as a key tenet of the treaty.

The president's position was based on the following:

• global warming is real and that it is caused by human activity.
• the potential damage caused by global warming would greatly outweigh the damage caused to the economy by restricting energy use.
• the agreement will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions world wide and will prevent global warming.

2004—The United States and Australia refuse to ratify the Kyoto Protocol climate treaty.

The United Nations’ Kyoto Protocol will require 35 industrialized nations to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by 2008 to 2012. Full compliance will have no measurable effect on future temperatures according to scientists who nonetheless support the treaty.

“The Kyoto Protocol has been sold as a first step in addressing climate change, but it is a step in the wrong direction. The costs of the policies required by Kyoto will far outweigh any potential benefits,” said Director of Global Warming and International Environmental Policy Myron Ebell.

“In the European Union, Japan, and Canada, the reality that Kyoto is a dead end and cannot possibly work is already beginning to set in. We can only hope that they will be able to jump off the Kyoto bandwagon before too much economic damage has been done,” Ebell continued. “Because they have refused to sign on to the energy rationing required by Kyoto, Americans and Australians will be wealthier, healthier, and therefore better able to deal with future environmental challenges, whatever their cause.”

References:

United States and Australia Dodge Kyoto Bullet: Climate Treaty Goes into Force for Other Industrial Nati ons, Feburary 14, 2005. Available at www.cei.org.

Global Warming Webquest. Available at http://www.gc.peachnet.edu/library/amegaw/webquest/GW.htm.