Essay #2- The Kyoto Protocol

The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty, created by the United Nations, to be signed by countries who wish to pledge to reduce the major cause of global warming...greenhouse gas emissions. It is an agreement in which ALL countries pledge to reduce their emissions once from where they were at 1990 at, starting in 2008. It was adopted in 1997 and by 2005, it was put into effect. This agreement does not ask countries to change what they already have, but either to get rid of their worst greenhouse gas problems or, when creating new construction plans or new technologies, decreasing sharply or eliminating greenhouse gases. The problem is, it requires major tax increases to pay for more energy-efficient plants and other necessities the country needs to honor this agreement. In addition, some countries that have already signed and are practicing that method are increasing and decreasing their emission rates at different levels. Germany and Denmark , for example, are forced to cut their emissions by 21% , Sweden can increase their emissions by 4%, and France’s emissions have stayed the same since 1990. A lot of countries love this idea of trying to save our planet and it will create a better environment in the country, so they are happy to ratify it. Some countries think the countries who are not honoring the treaty are not fair, and decide not to sign the Kyoto Protocol.

The United States, for example, refuse to sign it. People all over the world are shocked. Why is the Bush Administration not signing it? All the other countries in the world that are members of the United Nations, except four, ratified it. Why can’t we? All the evidence supporting the causes of global warming relates to greenhouse gas emissions. Why doesn’t the Bush Administration recognize that? I, and all of Egalite, agree with the rest of the world. This is an outrage! Because of this, countries such as Australia and Canada are bowing out of the treaty as well. Also, since the United States is refusing to sign the treaty, citizens of countries are not showing support in attempting to honor the treaty. Brazil is a great example of the government ratifying it, and the people not honoring it. Some countries even think the treaty is unrealistic. Sadly, the less support the Kyoto Protocol has, the worse global warming will get, and that is never good news.


Some countries are signing the document, but not honor it. That’s ridiculous, in my opinion. Why would you agree to something and then turn around and not fulfill your part of the bargain? The big oil-producing countries, like Saudi Arabia, fear their economy will crash because countries will stop buying oil. My micronation, upon signing the protocol, will attempt to omit greenhouse gases entirely. We will filter smoke rising from factories and power plants, and there will be almost no cars in Egalite as it is. I don’t know about you, but I want to do my part to save our beautiful blue planet, and apparently other countries feel that way, too.