Kyoto Protocol signed by Russia – will the U.S. be next?

We all remember the Kyoto treaty from way back when, and we remember when President Bush refused to recognize it. Punk band Bad Religion even dedicated a song to the protocol.

On Thursday it was approved by the Russian government and sent to their Parliament for approval. Hopefully their acceptance of the treaty will pave the way for other leaders, like President Bush, to sign.

The Kyoto Protocol is focused on climate change due to the emission of greenhouse gases in industrialized countries. Environmentalists are thrilled at Russia's action. If we are lucky, the treaty will come into effect in a mere three months. The Russian decision will hopefully increase pressure on America to accept the treaty once more.

Three years ago the world's biggest greenhouse gas producer, the United States, went back on its decision to help the environment. That made Russia the next target because Russia accounts for 17 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. The goal of the Kyoto Protocol is for all countries to lower combined emissions five percent from the 1990 levels. Each individual country has a personal goal as well.

Unfortunately, it seems that countries overall have actually increased their emissions since 1990 instead of lowering them, with the exception of a few high-achieving European Union countries. It is imperative that all the countries responsible for more than half of the greenhouse gasses in 1990 sign and honor the treaty. When the United States pulled out, it devastated the Kyoto Protocol because the U.S. is responsible for around a fourth of all emissions.

If the U.S. re-ratified the treaty, a real difference can be made to slow global warming. The Bush Administration claimed the treaty would hinder the U.S. financially, the same fear that Russia is having. Bush also said the treaty is flawed because it does not require the signing of developing countries that barely produce emissions.

Sadly, the United States has increased its emissions a whopping 15 percent what they were in 1990 since pulling out of the treaty. Its conditions in the treaty were to decrease emissions by a paltry six percent. It is really necessary for the United States to finally realize the importance of the Kyoto treaty and its goals, and accept the conditions. The United States creates more wealth than any other country on the planet, and yet refuses to do something that would be positive for the world in the long run.

It is more important to preserve the Earth for future generations than to squander its climate, environment, and natural resources for short-term gains. The Kyoto Protocol does not solve the problem entirely but it is a nice start, though according to BBC News, climate scientists say a 60 percent reduction in emissions is necessary to avoid the worst of the global warming consequences. However, once all of the highest polluting countries sign, it should be downhill from there to get countries to accept other environmental law changes.

The United States hopefully can see the impact that Russia's signing will have on overall emissions, and consent to re-sign. Perhaps the next president will. Either way, there is hope once more for the Kyoto Protocol.