Climate Change

Isela Reyes

Climate Change

Bush continues to reject the Kyoto Protocol, whose purpose is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that could result in disastrous climate changes, sparking criticism among international leaders. The Kyoto Protocol, which opened up for signatures in 1997 but did not come into action until 2005, would lower greenhouse gas emissions through mandatory cuts that would put a limit to the amount of gas emissions that a country produces. Bush has stated that he is not against lowering greenhouse gasses; rather, he is opposed to a treaty that does not have 100 percent participation, noting that India and China have certain exemptions that he does not agree with.

Bush’ rejection of the Kyoto Protocol was never more apparent then on Monday, during the United Nations climate change summit, held in New York where republican governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, talked of a new plan that would “move past the 1997 Kyoto Protocol and includes developing and wealthy nations”.
Schwarzenegger also called on California as a major contributor that could get the ball rolling on helping the U.S. do its part to lower the amount of greenhouse gasses it produces. According to Schwarzenegger, California is responsible for changing the U.S. policy regarding climate change, doing so to bring a positive change where the Bush camp is doing nothing to reform. California has jumped on board this year when Schwarzenegger signed a 2006 law that requires the state to lower the amount of emissions 25 percent by the year 2020. The warp speed at which California moves through everything from politics to economy can help serve the country by pushing other states to follow its example. Specifically, Schwarzenegger wants California to pave the way for more affordable “clean technology” making it more affordable and as a result, more attainable to the greater public, which in turn will curb the greenhouse gas emissions that the United States contributes.

All the campaigning by Schwarzenegger and other international leaders is great, but may be to late according to scientists, who say that the effects of greenhouse gas emissions on the climate are already present. The recent hit of storms and hurricanes over the past few years are most likely due to the damage already done to the climate, noting that the increase in the number and strength of recent hurricanes like Katrina and Wilma are a direct result of climate change. According to scientists, when global temperatures change, the amount and strength of hurricanes also increase. Scientists are also predicting that the glaciers will melt away within 50 years, which can lead to rising sea levels.

The changes caused by the increase in global temperatures is too late to stop because it is already here, but it is still possible to change the future by preventing the climate from changing any more than it has to, according to scientists. To do this, the United Nations needs to work together collectively to create a policy that will help change the worlds future. Something that Bush says he is not opposed to; rather he encourages a policy that will include full participation by all countries.