Student to attend climate change conference in Hague

By Kristen Beaumont

Daily Staff Reporter

SNRE graduate student Heather Plumridge leaves today for the Hague, Netherlands, where members of the United Nations are gathered for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

"This is a unique opportunity for me to bring knowledge on global warming to the people of Ann Arbor," Plumridge said.

The delegates, gathered since Monday, are discussing the points of the Kyoto Protocol, which calls for industrialized nations to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

Plumridge will attend the convention as a student observer for the U.S. Student Climate Summit, a program sponsored by Greenpeace. Alongside 200 other students, Plumridge will remain at the conference until its completion Nov. 25, observing the negotiations and furthering her education about global warming.

"In addition to observing the talks, the students will be working with the United States' negotiating teams on the Clean Development Mechanism, a program that encourages developing countries to use environmentally friendly technology," Plumridge said.

If the treaty is enacted, industrialized nations would be required to reduce their emissions 5 percent below their 1990 levels over the next 8 to 12 years.

About 50 countries must ratify the treaty before it can take effect, and so far, no industrialized nation has ratified the treaty. More than 100 representative from industrial nations have approved of the treaty.

The United States has committee to reducing their greenhouse emissions to 7 percent below the 1990 levels, but the treaty has not even been presented to Congress for ratification.

Plumridge believes the outcome of the Kyoto Protocol may be affected by the negotiations.

"The U.S. is the leading global warming polluter in the world," she said. "But without the U.S. on board, other nations won't be likely to agree to the treaty."

The treaty does not address the issue of the emissions in developing countries. These countries would not be legally bound to follow the same emission protocol as the industrialized nations.

Even though she will be missing Thanksgiving at home, Plumridge was very excited about attending the conference.

"Really, the reason why I am going is to bring more public attention to the discussion of global warming," she said, adding that the American delegates at the conference would all be sharing Thanksgiving dinner.

Plumridge will be updating fellow SNRE students via email throughout the duration of the conference.

"I am extremely lucky to have this opportunity at the United Nations to see the world delegates interact and discuss environmental issues," she said.