The Truth About "Alternative Energy"
Global Warming on FreeRepublic
Posted on 12/05/2007 2:53:52 PM PST by NormsRevenge
BALI, Indonesia - In an opening gambit, Japan has proposed that the Bali climate conference pursue a broad "least common denominator" approach to negotiating new controls on global-warming gases. Environmentalists couldn't think less of it.
The proposal says nothing about making future targets for emission reductions legally binding — the principle underlying the current Kyoto Protocol.
"Is Japan scrapping the Kyoto Protocol on its 10th birthday?" asked Japanese environmentalist Kyoko Kawasaka. A Canadian colleague spoke of a "plot" by Japan and the United States to block a new Kyoto-style global agreement.
Japanese officials protest that they are simply trying to kick-start negotiations here at the annual U.N. climate meeting, viewed as the most critical such session in years.
The exchange offers an early view of what promises to be a contentious two weeks on this relaxed resort island, where many hope the more than 180 national delegations will decide to launch two years of serious negotiations on a global framework for fending off dangerous climate change.
The Kyoto Protocol of 1997 requires 36 industrialized nations to reduce their emissions of heat-trapping "greenhouse gases" — carbon dioxide and some other industrial, agricultural and transportation byproducts — by an average 5 percent below 1990 levels before its expiration in 2012.
The United States is now the only industrial nation to reject Kyoto. President Bush's administration says mandatory cutbacks would damage the U.S. economy and objects that they don't cover poorer but fast-developing nations like China and India. Bush favors allowing each country to decide on voluntary, "bottom-up" reductions in emissions.
The pro-Kyoto parties, led by the European Union, seek a "Bali roadmap" for talks that would produce by 2009 a new treaty requiring still-deeper reductions by richer nations after Kyoto expires. Many also want firm but less stringent commitments from China and others to slow the emissions growth of their booming economies.
The EU has pledged 20 percent cutbacks by 2020, and 30 percent cuts if the U.S. joins in. Many scientists believe emissions must be cut at least in half by mid-century to head off the worst of global warming — rising seas, flooding, severe droughts, extreme weather and other drastic impacts.
In a draft submitted for consideration, Japan proposed that talks begin on a post-Kyoto agreement that would address a "global long-term goal for emission reduction" and "policies and measures" for reining in emissions.
It mentions a possible "sectorial approach on bottom-up basis" — meaning nationally, not internationally, determined reductions in power plant or automobile emissions, for example.
Activists criticized the draft's omission of internationally binding cuts.
"It's clear to a number of us that the U.S. would like nothing more than for nothing to happen on the Kyoto track," said Canadian Steven Guilbeault, a leading environmentalist spokesman here. "They will let their Japanese colleagues do that."
Kawasaka, of Tokyo's environmentalist Kiko Network, asked: "Is Japan trying to please the United States?"
"Yes, of course," Hombu Kazuhiko, a Japanese delegation spokesman, told The Associated Press. "We don't want the U.S. out of the final decision-making. Our top priority is to start negotiations." Once that begins, he said, "we can add some more elements."
As for binding emission cuts, "between the lines, we're saying those things," Kazuhiko said. But for now, "we are aiming at some common denominator."
Chief U.S. climate negotiator Harlan Watson told AP that the Japanese are acting "on their own." But, he added, "we see a lot of elements in the Japanese proposal that are very much in our thinking."
The U.N. climate chief, Yvo de Boer, took a wait-and-see attitude.
"These are exactly the kinds of issues I would expect the group to focus on in the coming days," he said.
Total crap and they know it. Even if they met those requirements, the reduction in temperature over the next 100 years according to their stupid models would still be only a few hundredths of a degree. Totally worthless.
wow! dimocraps in nippon, who would've thunk?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1933800/posts
Japan, Italy and Spain face payments of as much as $33 billion
Nov. 30 (Bloomberg) — Japan, Italy and Spain face payments of as much as $33 billion combined for failing to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions as promised under the Kyoto treaty.
The three countries are the worst performers among 36 nations that agreed to curb carbon dioxide gases that cause climate change. The 1997 Kyoto accord designed to slow global warming demands that polluting nations buy credits for their excess emissions from other industrial polluters or investors.
``They’re looking at a huge bill now,’’ said Mike Rosenberg, management professor at the University of Navarra’s IESE Business School in Barcelona. ``That is because none would pay to reconvert factories, power plants and paper mills’’ to trim gases blamed for the planet-warming ``greenhouse effect.’’ ...
~~Anthropogenic Global Warming ™ ping~~
Wonder how you say “flip you the bird,” in Japanese ?
“cuso tah-reh” works. ;)
I guess the confusion of “least common denominator” and “greatest common denominator” is a world-wide phenomenon.
very politely...with a smile and a bow?
The Truth About "Alternative Energy"
Global Warming on FreeRepublic
I figured this part of the deal would last just until some big fines came due. I can't see any of these countries ponying up billions of dollars to some corrupt UN bureaucracy with no enforcement power.
Interesting observation:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1933800/replies?c=21
“That’s going to be difficult for Italy, because it’s a member of the glorified currency snake called the Euro and the pseudonation called the European Union, and as such has to keep its national budget within certain limits — it is required — and hasn’t been complying with this for a while. Certain other nations in Europe are in the same boat, but may not be in hock to this Kyoto BS.”
ping
I'd love to see the foreign leader stand before his country and say, sorry, no police or fire protection, and no new roads. We have to give 33 BILLION to the UN.
Thanks RC.
IPCC Falsifies Sea Level Data
Reason McLucas Blog Hosted by London Telegraph
December 5, 2007 | ReasonMcLucus
Posted on 12/05/2007 4:59:51 PM EST by kathsua
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/1935260/posts
A blast of hot air at Bali’s climate conference
UK Telegraph | December 03 2007
Posted on 12/03/2007 4:51:48 PM EST by knighthawk
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1934131/posts
Craig files 45 changes to warming bill
Idaho Statesman | 12/5/07 | ERIKA BOLSTAD
Posted on 12/05/2007 11:17:53 PM EST by ricks_place
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1935448/posts
Giant Squid’s California Migration Product Of Warming
PRAVDA | 12/04/-7 | AP
Posted on 12/05/2007 10:37:30 PM EST by ricks_place
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1935432/posts
IPCC Falsifies Sea Level Data
Reason McLucas Blog Hosted by London Telegraph | December 5, 2007 | ReasonMcLucus
Posted on 12/05/2007 4:59:51 PM EST by kathsua
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1935260/posts
Leading climate scientists insist on strong global warming treaty
PRAVDA | 12/05/07 | AP
Posted on 12/05/2007 10:23:56 PM EST by ricks_place
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1935427/posts
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