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• The Kyoto Protocol is an amendment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The ultimate goal of the protocol is to stabilize greenhouse gas emission concentrations in the atmosphere.

• Fast Facts

  1. 2008: 182 countries and various government entities have ratified the United Nations agreement
  2. Signatory countries must reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by a collective average of 5.2% below the 1990 level
  3. Countries that don't meet their Kyoto obligations will be forced to submit 1.3 emission allowances
  4. Now covers more than 60 percent of greenhouse gas emissions globally
  5. Countries categorized as Annex I countries (developed countries) that have accepted greenhouse gas reduction obligations and non-annex I countries (developing countries) that don't produce greenhouse gas emissions but are participating in the Clean Development Mechanism
  6. Not ratified by the United States

• Quotes

  "The scientific evidence on climate change is stronger than ever. We all know that even the targets in the Kyoto Protocol are only a first step if we want to prevent the severe consequences that climate change could have. All countries have to act, but the industrialised countries have to take the lead. Climate change can only be tackled effectively through a multilateral process." — [[Margot Wallström]], Environment Commissioner for the European UnionEuropa European Union Ratifies the Kyoto Protocol(May 31, 2002)

  "Kyoto is, in many ways, unrealistic. Many countries cannot meet their Kyoto targets. The targets themselves were arbitrary and not based upon science. For America, complying with those mandates would have a negative economic impact, with layoffs of workers and price increases for consumers. And when you evaluate all these flaws, most reasonable people will understand that it's not sound public policy." — United States President George W. BushThe White House: President Bush Discusses Global Climate Change (June 11, 2001)

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Greenpeace | Climate Change | Al Gore | George W. Bush | Solar Power | Peak Oil | Alternative Energy | Air Pollution | Wind Power | Election 2008 | Bill Clinton | An Inconvenient Truth | Kyoto

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