Canada has announced earlier this month that they will be pulling out of the Kyoto Protocol.
The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement between 37 countries to reduce greenhouse gases. It sets specific emission reductions (that can vary between countries). According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, (the emission reduction) amount to an average of five percent compared to the 1990 levels over the five-year period of 2008-2012.
From what I understand, if Canada had upheld its agreement it was going to cost them $14 billion in penalty damages for not reaching their 2012 goals.
Economically their motives are understandable. Politically, a different party is in power then when Canada signed the agreement. A party, which at the time, made no secret of their opposition to the Kyoto Protocol.
"To meet the targets under Kyoto for 2012 would be the equivalent of either removing every car, truck, ATV, tractor, ambulance, police car and vehicle of every kind from Canadian roads or closing down the entire farming and agriculture sector and cutting heat to every home, office, hospital, factory and building in Canada," Canadian Environmental Minister Peter Kent said in an announcement Dec. 12, 2011.
Every country who signed the Kyoto Protocol has the right to withdraw. However, if a country does decide to withdraw then they must give a warning a year before they intend to. If they don't then they will still be held accountable for their greenhouse gas emissions.
Kent stated that the previous government had no intention of upholding their obligations, the Kyoto Protocol is outdated and that the two largest greenhouse gas emitting countries hadn't signed the treaty (USA and China). How does China and USA not signing effect Canada's decision to sign and their commitments to reducing their own emissions? How does China and USA still not signing change anything 14 years later?
Yes, USA and China need to reduce their emissions. Perhaps a better international protocol will be developed that could be attainable and would entice more countries to sign (and following through). I'm eagerly looking forward to a new international agreement that will be effective and acceptable for more countries than those who originally signed the Kyoto Protocol.
From what I understood, by signing the Kyoto Protocol the country was making goals and promises to reduce their own personal emissions for the betterment of the planet. I understand that their goals cannot be met due to economic complications and their reasoning that the Kyoto Protocol is outdated. But bringing up the fact that the USA and China aren't involved as a reason to withdraw from Canada's commitment was thoughtless.
One has to wonder if Canada had been more aggressive about their regulations regarding their greenhouse gases, would they have to withdraw to avoid penalty charges?
