Climate Change is a growing threat to the United States and all other nations. But what are the world's countries doing about it? Some details of this answer are listed in this project.
Global warming is a global problem that requires a global solution. Many American citizens begin to take action to fight climate change and its consequences because in the past environmental problems were not on the agenda in the US politics - except in California where climate problems were treated exemplary.
A growing number of state and local Governments and private companies in the USA are stepping forward to address climate change with reasonable, creative, cost-effective strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But is it enough to preserve our environment and our climate?
The US President called global warming "the greatest environmental challenge of the 21st century" and urge all Americans to help find solutions to this important problem.
Nevertheless the USA represented itself as “refusenik” for any agreements in climate policies during the last climate conferences (COPs).
At a glance
- Examines Bush’s 2002 alternative to the Kyoto Protocol
- Discusses the Kyoto Protocol’s flexibility mechanisms, including emissions trading
- 15 sources in the bibliography
Table of Contents
Foreword
1. Causes And Consequences Of Global Climate Change (Warming)
2. The IPCC (InterGovernmental Panel on Climate Change) And “Climate Skeptics”
3. The Kyoto Protocol
4 The Actual US Climate Policy
4.1 The US Attitude And Views
4.2 The Refusal Of And The Alternative To The Kyoto Protocol
4.3 The Enron Scandal
5 Climate Policy Positions In Comparison: USA, EU And Developing Countries
Objectives and Themes
This work examines US climate policy in the early 2000s in relation to international climate protection and the US economy. It asks how the United States approaches climate change, why its government rejected the Kyoto Protocol, and how its position compares with those of the European Union and developing countries.
- Causes and potential consequences of global warming
- The IPCC and debate over climate science
- The Kyoto Protocol and its flexibility mechanisms
- US climate policy, economic growth and the Bush administration’s alternative
- The Enron scandal and energy policy
- Climate policy positions of the United States, the EU and developing countries
Excerpt from the Book
4.2 The Refusal Of And The Alternative To The Kyoto Protocol
The US Government is of the opinion that making drastic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions would put millions of Americans out of work, would cause serious harm to the U.S. economy and undermine their ability to make long-term investments in clean energy. They search for a growth-based approach which will accelerate the development of new technologies and encourage partnerships on climate change issues with the developing world.
The US President declines the Kyoto Protocol because it doesn’t consider 80% of the world, including major population centers such as China and India. The Senate’s vote (95-0) shows that there is a clear correspondence that the Kyoto Protocol is unfair and ineffective in addressing global climate change concerns. Besides US President Bush said in march 2001: „the Kyoto Protocol endangers the US Economy and the American Way of Life“.
On 14th february 2002 US President Bush introduced his alternative program to the Protocol of Kyoto, after he declared in march 2001 that “the Protocol is dead”. Greenhouse gas intensity is the ratio of greenhouse gas emissions to economic output. There are only two ways to stabilize concentration of greenhouse gases. One is to avoid emitting them and the other is trying to capture them after they’re created. The President’s goal in climate policy is called the “The Clear Skies Initiative”:
Cut the greenhouse gas intensity by 18% over the next 10 years by reducing their rate of emissions from an estimated 183 metric tons per million dollars of GDP in 2002, to 151 metric tons per million dollars of GDP in 2012. That means to avoid more than 500 million metric tons of GHG emissions over the next ten years (“the equivalent of taking nearly one out of every three cars off the road and a goal which is comparable to the average progress that nations participating in the Kyoto Protocol are required to achieve”). Listed in detail:
•to cut sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions by 73% from current emissions of 11 million tons to a cap of 4.5 million tons in 2010, and 3 million tons in 2018.
•to cut emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 67%, from current emissions of 5 million tons to a cap of 2.1 million tons in 2008, and to 1.7 million tons in 2018.
•to cut mercury emissions by 69%. This emissions will be cut from current emissions of 48 tons to a cap of 26 tons in 2010, and 15 tons in 2018.
Chapter Summaries
Foreword: The author introduces climate change as a global challenge and raises questions about American and international responses.
1. Causes And Consequences Of Global Climate Change (Warming): This chapter discusses greenhouse gas emissions, temperature changes and potential impacts including extreme weather and coastal flooding.
2. The IPCC (InterGovernmental Panel on Climate Change) And “Climate Skeptics”: The author describes the IPCC’s role and contrasts its assessments with arguments attributed to climate skeptics.
3. The Kyoto Protocol: This chapter outlines emissions commitments and flexibility mechanisms, including joint implementation, the Clean Development Mechanism and emissions trading.
4 The Actual US Climate Policy: The author examines US attitudes, the rejection of Kyoto, the Bush administration’s alternative and the Enron scandal in connection with energy policy.
5 Climate Policy Positions In Comparison: USA, EU And Developing Countries: The final chapter compares stated priorities concerning economic development, emissions reductions, responsibility and financial or technological support.
Keywords
US climate policy, global warming, climate protection, Kyoto Protocol, greenhouse gas emissions, IPCC, climate skepticism, emissions trading, economic growth, Clear Skies Initiative, European Union, developing countries, Enron
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this work about?
It examines US climate policy in the early 2000s alongside international climate protection and economic considerations.
What are its central themes?
The main themes include climate science, the Kyoto Protocol, US policy, economic growth and international differences over climate protection.
What is the work’s main objective?
It seeks to explain the US approach to climate change and compare it with the positions of other participants in international climate policy.
What research method does the author use?
The author draws on published literature, official information and press reports to describe and compare climate policy positions.
What does the main discussion cover?
It moves from the causes and consequences of climate change to the IPCC, the Kyoto Protocol, US policy and a comparison of international positions.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include US climate policy, the Kyoto Protocol, greenhouse gas emissions, the IPCC, economic growth and emissions trading.
How does the work discuss the Kyoto Protocol?
It describes the protocol’s emissions commitments and discusses flexibility mechanisms intended to help countries meet their targets.
What alternative US approach is examined?
The work discusses the Bush administration’s 2002 approach, including greenhouse gas intensity goals and measures associated with the Clear Skies Initiative.
Why is Enron discussed?
The author considers the Enron scandal in connection with questions about the energy company’s influence on US government energy policy.
- Quote paper
- Jan Hollmann (Author), 2002, The Actual US Climate Policy In Comparison With The Global Climate Protection And The Interrelation With The US Economy, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/8206
