Russia's Duma signs Kyoto Accord

[joeclarke]

That marks 61% of the world's greenhouse gas production commited to annual reduction quotas as set out in the planet altering, 1997 accord.

Way to go Russia!!!!

Here is the openning statement in the article in the Aussie paper The Age in case you're not interested in logging into their site:

Russia signs Kyoto climate accord
October 23, 2004 - 11:05AM

Russia's Duma ratified the Kyoto Protocol today, clearing the way for the long-delayed climate change pact to come into force worldwide.

The State Duma's ratification pushes the 126-nation UN accord, aimed at battling global warming, over the threshold of 55 per cent of developed nations' greenhouse gas emissions needed to make it internationally binding after a US pullout in 2001

It is very unfortunate that the US - contributing 36% of the greenhouse gases pumped into the earth's atmosphere every year cannot stomach the cost to help resolve this planet-threatening environmental condition.

God Bless the coalition of the willing that have banded together to attack this real threat to the long term health and wealth of Americans. Thanks to Russia, Chile, Canada, UK, China, India, et al for standing up and being counted.

Thanks (for nothing) for not giving a crap George!

[350HP930]

So what other backwards leaders besides bush are trying to resist practical pollution controls now?

[928ram]

Another un-enforcable UN accord? And we expect nobody (everybody) to cheat on this right?

[Purrybonker]

Originally posted by 928ram
Another un-enforcable UN accord? And we expect nobody (everybody) to cheat on this right?

Good point, but this accord has an economic foundation behind it that will make it practicable and attractive for nations (and the actual poluting commercial entities inside those nations) to jump on the bandwagon. This thing is not without cost - but is absolutely win-win for the entire planet. The consequences of non-action are pretty deadly (these were given "comic-book" treatment in the movie "The Day After Tomorrow").

Kyoto "credits" will start to be traded on an international scale just like crude/natural gas futures at some point in time. We have already seen Kyoto "swaps" where a Canadian company paid for the clean-up of the emissions of a South American company - thereby "buying" Kyoto credits.

All this thing takes is regulatory commitment from national governments to create the functional framework inside their borders. Few companies (some, like BP and Shell have done so I think) will commit to Kyoto-type reductions without a regulatory framework. Can't really blame them - they have to compete in their given market.

That the richest and worst poluting nation on the planet refuses to participate due to the "cost to the lifestyle of Americans" is an unfortuate thing indeed.

The US had previously signed onto Kyoto - George W Bush withdrew US support early in his presidency.

[Serge914]

Many peoples believe that the next economic boom will be environmentaly related. The countries supporting the Kyoto Accord will have a technological advance over those that didn't support it.

[lendaddy]

If there is money to be made on a new industry we will be involved, don't worry. Whether or not we signed UN accord #4679633 will have no bearing on it.

[Purrybonker]

Originally posted by lendaddy
If there is money to be made on a new industry we will be involved, don't worry. Whether or not we signed UN accord #4679633 will have no bearing on it.

Would be nice if it were that simple. Unfortunately, the government needs to create the currency of ecological commerce by imposing a regulatory environment where that can happen. If companies are not required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by statute, then related reductions or "Kyoto Credits" will never have commercial value inside the United States.

So yes, it is absolutely necessary for the US government to ratify the accord before US corporations can and will participate.

[350HP930]

Yup, just look at who is already producing hybrid and other high efficiency vehicles. I don't see US manufacturers even close on trying to make money at that venture.

[john70t]

The current attitude amoung many in the US seems to be of an anti-nature stance, not just one of skepticism.
It`s kind of suprizing to find that attitude comming from people who want to use natures benefits(hunters, offroader) but think it infinte. It amost seems to done out of political spite/greed from a personal nature, not out of common sense of what is good for humanities quality of life.
Some people want to name each tree `rainbow freedom` and are rightfully used as laughing-stock poster-children for the `right`, but the reality is that nature serves as an industrial and economic function.
Want building supplies? Gotta have forests.
Want to reduce health problems and birth defects? Gotta have polution scrubbers.
Want to hunt a variety of wild game? Gotta have wild.

State planning commissions probably have the most influence over future pollution and quality of life standards. Controlling urban sprawl means a reduction in transportation costs and time for everything, which leaves money avilable for every other aspect of a higher culture. For instance, if a loaf of bread requires $10 in gas to get to the supermarket, what happens to it`s price? How efficient are workers who spend 4 hours a day in heavy traffic?

[john70t]

Speaking of Kyoto. I happen to be there right now. It`s nice to be able to catch a train a few blocks away and transfer to a Shinkansen bullet train which will take me across the country at 200mph in luxury. The supermarkets are stocked with a hundred types of seafood, all relatively inexpensive, the water is tastless, and the horizon is relatively clear despite the population density.
This is all in the realm of efficiency per capita, and falls into the vision of a technological future with a high standard of living. Who is the Luddite again?

[Serge914]

It is easy to make a comparison. The standard of living in Western Europa is quite the same as it is over here in America but they use only half the energy per habitant and do a lot less pollution.

[Serge914]

We all know that Bush is against Kyoto and Al Gore was a a great supporter. What is Kerry position ?

[joeclarke]

Originally posted by Serge914
We all know that Bush is against Kyoto and Al Gore was a a great supporter. What is Kerry position ?

I'm bettin female superior lookin' at the wife.

If you're asking about his posture on the Kyoto Accord - he's all for it, baby!!!

[Overpaid Slacker]

Yeah, Bush is the only guy against Kyoto. Oh, and every single US Senator that voted against its ratification 8 years ago. Oh, and Clinton. It was a bad idea back then, and it remains a bad idea, according to both sides of the aisle. Well, except the Blame America First, Last and Always(tm) deep thinkers.

The Russians are gaming the system; a system even the holy Eurocrats have ignored. Russia was bought, both through a promise to be allowed to re-enter the WTO (great, now Russia can have pinhead *****bag protesters too!) and through the sale of emissions credits to Europe. Just don't pay any attention to the man behind the (Iron) Curtain kids.

So those of you pathologically incapable of restraining yourselves from cheap political shots at Bush, don't read this.

I believe there's a typo is that piece, however. The end of the 8th para from the bottom should read "disadvantage" not "advantage".

JP

[joeclarke]

Yep - that's it JP - Kyoto is just another devious plot to make America look bad. Why, those inscrutable Russians even have the Europeans, Brits, Canadians and about 90% of the free world on side to the idea of cleaning up the earth's air - just to make America look bad !!!

The paranoia of the right wing never ceases to amaze...

Even George (Don't-talk-to-me-about-science-unless-it-goes-bang) Bush doesn't argue the science of Kyoto - just the price tag associated with the cure.

[Serge914]

JP, TCS seem a little biased to me:

Tech Central Station is supported by sponsoring corporations that share our faith in technology and free markets. Smart application of technology - combined with pro free market, science-based public policy - has the ability to help us solve many of the world's problems, and so we are grateful to AT&T, Avue Technologies, The Coca-Cola Company, ExxonMobil, General Motors Corporation, Intel, McDonalds, Merck, Microsoft, Nasdaq, PhRMA, and Qualcomm for their support

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Originally posted by Serge914
The standard of living in Western Europa is quite the same as it is over here in America but they use only half the energy per habitant and do a lot less pollution.

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/2003-09-25-france-heat_x.htm

Good thing, too, otherwise they'd have a lot more geezers sucking on the government t!t.

[joeclarke]

Originally posted by BlueSkyJaunte
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/2003-09-25-france-heat_x.htm

Good thing, too, otherwise they'd have a lot more geezers sucking on the government t!t.

WTF is that crap?

I can imagine the reaction from the holier-than-the-rest-of-the-world types here if some european posted the same message with a link to 9/11.

Man - you are way over the top of the crassness scale here. I appologize to the rest of the world on the behalf of anyone who even looks like you.

[ubiquity0]

Originally posted by BlueSkyJaunte
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/2003-09-25-france-heat_x.htm

Good thing, too, otherwise they'd have a lot more geezers sucking on the government t!t.

14,000 deaths as the basis for a nice joke?

Lovely

[350HP930]

I am sure that 104 degree temperatures in our northern states where A/C is rare would have the same devastating effect on our elderly citizens