The Kyoto conference on global climate change in early December hammered out a vague plan to reduce worldwide greenhouse gas emissions, but left the world wondering if anything can actually be done to stop global warming.
In a two-part symposium this past weekend, titled "After Kyoto, What Next? Prospects for the Future," some of the world's foremost experts on global climate change gathered at East Hall to discuss the impact of the Kyoto conference and what needs to be done to make its plans a reality.
Most of the speakers at the symposium held the same basic viewpoint.
"Kyoto is a step in the right direction," said Tuiloma Slade, a Samoan ambassador and a keynote speaker. "But a great deal more is needed."
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| LOUIS BROWN/Daily Stanford University Prof. Steve Schneider, one of the world's leading experts on global climate changes, addresses the audience at the symposium on Friday. |
Some countries agreed to reduce emissions by more than 5.2 percent. The United States' target is 7 percent below 1990 levels by the year 2012; the European Union agreed to an 8-percent reduction; and Japan promised to reduce its emissions by 6 percent.
In order to allow for the economic growth of developing nations, countries such as Australia will be permitted to increase their greenhouse gas emissions as their industries grow.
Other developing nations weren't included at all in the agreement, which was one of its biggest shortcomings, said White House National Security Council member David Sandalow.
"We did not fully engage developing countries to the extent that is necessary," Sandalow said.
The issues of developing nations and their greenhouse gas emissions was one of the most debated topics at both the Kyoto convention and the symposium.
Although total and per capita emissions of developing nations are far lower than those of developed nations, they are not insignificant, and if left unchecked, these emissions will continue to rise and could cause an ecological disaster.
But developing countries are determined not to stay impoverished while developed nations reap the benefits of their high consumption lifestyles.
Atul Khare, United Nations Permanent Mission of India counselor, contrasted India with the United States, saying that even as India's industries continue to grow, there is still "no comparison" between the two countries' amounts of greenhouse gas emissions.
The symposium also touched on the "clean development mechanism" - the means by which greenhouse gas emissions will be cut in individual countries.
"You need more than a target," said Steve Schneider, a professor at Stanford University and one of the world's leading experts on climate changes. "You need a mechanism," Schneider said.
In the United States, the clean development mechanism will involve tax cuts and deregulation for industries responsible for greenhouse gas emissions.
On the international scale, emissions trading will allow developed nations to invest money in new, efficient technology to reduce gas emissions in developing nations. This money would otherwise be spent on reducing emissions in developed countries, which is a much more expensive process. This allows funds to be used more efficiently. But both of these mechanisms are far from comprehensive and came under attack .
Despite these setbacks, Sandalow said he was optimistic about the overall outcome of the Kyoto agreement.
"The Kyoto protocol was an enormous achievement," he said. "Kyoto was about establishing a framework for moving forward."
02-02-98
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