How much would Kyoto cost the USA? How much would the temp decrease if we joined?
Answer:
It would cost the Country big time, And produce nothing. The Kyoto treaty was created in Kyoto Japan (hence its name) and even the idea masters of the treaty passed on implementing it. Both Bush and Clinton also passed on enacting it as well as most countries. The treaty would basically punish richer countries like the U.S., European countries, Canada ect. but wouldn't effect the world's major pollutor's like Mexico, N. Korea and China. They would be free to continue there polluting while the rest of us would be choking on regulations and the excessive new costs of producing goods and services. This would certainly drive up the costs of everything from food, gas, clothes,deodorant and cars.
The idea was created to give disadvantaged third world countries a chance to become a superpower by sacrafising the already rich countries upon the alter of fairness. It comes from the minds of socialist who are upset that everyone around the world doesn't have the same status or wealth. Its an attempt to level the global paying field so to speak. It would severely cripple American production and drive up the costs of goods while letting these third world countries continue to massively pollute while simulataneusly under cutting American products on the world market. Think we have a large disproportional exporting trade? Imagine how much we will export when "everything" we make costs four times as much then countries not tied down by the treaty. We are already losing jobs at an alarming rate to other countries for lower labor costs, this legislation would certainly be the nail in the coffin for the American economy. Our enemies would love nothing better than to see the econmy in the tank, 70% or more unemployment and government bread / soup lines. It woud be their chance to say "See, Democracy doesn't work!" And continue with murderous dictatorships.
Just be real careful jumping on the "Global warming" trend, Its based on shaky science and the biggest spokes person for the movement (Al Gore) is also the biggest profiteer who just so happens to own the solution. The Carbon credit thing is a scam, while he conveinently flys from coast to coast on private jets, he and his entouage cruises in luxury in Suburbans/ SUV's to speaches. What a hypocrite!
Just 15 years ago the scare tactic was global cooling, now a complete 180 by the very same guys? Talk about flip flopping.
Considering global warming is man made. Is a total farce, way too much. Disband the UN would be a place to start, too much hot air.
That treaty is a farse. It's insistence on decreasing and
doing away with CFC's has allready done more damage than
the CFC's! As it tuns out. The CFC's replacements caused much higher
levels. All treaties are not good treaties. And all solutions
are not real solutions. Scientist are perhaps not allways as
smart as they would have us believe...They are often wrong!
It is a good thing we did not join. Who made that decision?
I think it was that George guy that Liberals love to call stupid.
Maybe not so?
Kyoto benefits would strongly outweigh the costs. even if you do not believe in global warming, pollution is choking this country. more cases of asthma and cancer and other environmental diseases are unacceptable. we are now in the year 2007 we should be seeking efficiency and technological advances in every industry. This is not just about global warming it is about caring about your society and where you life and not just being irresponsible, wasteful, and enjoying of the status quo of pollution and big business ruling.
The Protocol also reaffirms the principle that developed countries have to pay billions of dollars, and supply technology to other countries for climate-related studies and projects. This was originally agreed in the UNFCCC.
Furthermore, two of the worlds top producers, India and China are listed as EXEMPT! They are not required, even as signers, to reduce their emissions due to "economical" concerns. While the pact would drop our GDP and damage the economy, our politicians have stated that they would send it to be ratified if ALL nations were required to participate, rather than only those that have been classified in a certain group.
As for the temporary decrease, that would take time. Even if we cut our emissions completely today, it will take time for the shift to reverse itself, IF it did so at all. It won't be overnight.
It would cost a bunch and there would be no decrease in temperatures if we joined.
It's not a matter of direct cost. It's not pay a million dollars and *poof* it's gone. Many manufacturing plants and power plants would have to shut down and layoff all their employees. Many parts of the US are still stuck in the industrial age with coal and oil used to heat homes and in power plants. It would take many millions of dollars to then renovate (if possible) or build cleaner plants. You know what the funny part is? The owners of the plants are big political contributors so they have politicians on their side and besides no one wants to be in the dark or cold waiting for the new plants to get built...which they will never build because the politicians will continually refuse to join the Kyoto Accord or else they lose their support and their career.
The cost to the USA is allready adding up by not joinning.
Massive hurricains, floods, drouts, forests fires, blizzards, coastal deterioration, need i go on.
Even if we joined today, and stop CO2 emissions by 100%, it's allready too late.
The engine to global warming is set in motion and nothing can realy be done about it.
Global warming is happening today and will continue to happen for many years to come.
But that shouldn't stop humanity from trying to do something anyways.
I'm Canadian and our government actually just recently had a lot of backlash because of this. We're in Kyoto but we backed down from our target requirements because not enough progress was being made.
Well our environment minister said that it would cost way too much to meet our targets, that it just cannot be done blah blah blah.
Well then the IPCC came out and said it would only cost 0.2% of global GDP to drastically drop emissions by 2050(I think, don't quote me directly), so that the temperature change would only be 2 degrees I think, which is supposed to be manageable.
So it went from a doomsday argument by our government, to a big slap in the face that it really will only cost 0.2% of the global GDP, which I don't think is a lot especially for developed countries.
So there was a fair bit of media backlash because of this, because it showed that our government didn't actually use real figures, they made it up. It may actually be the turning point for our government, and be the start of the decline of the current conservative government.
The cost of Kyoto is not a set amount. The cost would be determined more by the carbon credit trading system, plus the upgrades and changes needed to the indutries of the US. Also, costs to infrastructure for changing forms of energy plus mass transit infrastructure to get cars off the road also has to be evaluated. One good example of cost is to look at the price of corn, which has gone up over 100% since last year mainly due to ethanol production. That one price increase will have a ripple effect down to many goods that we consume on a daily basis.
As for the effectiveness of Kyoto, that would be very,very limited due to 2 major problems with the treaty:
1) 1990 numbers: these numbers gave a huge benefit to Europe favoring the former Soviet block which basically did nothing prior to 1990, while other nations had (and weren't credited for those efforts)
2) Carbon trading: basically a wealth distribution procedure that saw polluters buy 'credits' from those who met their targets. In this case, the total emissions would not be reduced, just accounted for by another country.
So the Kyoto protocol from inception was built to fail, yet we still try to hang onto this treaty for some odd reason.meanwhile China will pass the US in total emissions this year (or early next) and they are exempt from phase one of Kyoto!!
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