Environmental Issue in Canada: Kyoto Protocol

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Abstract

Kyoto protocol is an intercontinental environmental agreement that was settled at the United Nation conference. Before being given the title “Kyoto protocol”, it was known as the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. This protocol was held in Rio de Janeiro in the year 1992.

The main purpose of initiating this treaty is to conserve natural biodiversity and to improve economic development as mitigation of global warming takes place. Therefore, the Kyoto protocol is aimed at bringing continents together to agree on the way forward to curb global warming and conserve natural biodiversity.

Introduction

Historical part of Kyoto Protocol

The Kyoto Protocol took a long period before being implemented and agreed upon (Ethel Smith, 2005). The ultimate name is the Kyoto Protocol, instead of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. The United Nations framework convention on climate change (UNFCCC) was approved in March 1992. After two years this treaty entered into force. In 1994 the main purpose of this protocol was to maintain global warming to a manageable level where it can cause less harm to the environment. This would be achieved by stabilizing the concentration of greenhouse emissions in the atmosphere.

To some extent, about 145 countries have endorsed the treaty. This is to say that they have unanimously supported the set policies and objectives that are supposed to be met before 2012. Unfortunately, not all countries are supporting the protocol due to various reasons. For example, the USA and Australia discard the protocol. The reason being that this treaty would interfere with their economic outcome. But the main challenge was to produce the scientific evidence to defend their argument.

Executive summary and discussion

Global warming is an international problem that is faced by all. However, developing countries are accusing or blaming the developed countries because of causing global warming. At this juncture, I cannot fail to mention China and India are developing very fast. These two countries should also be held accountable shortly. The main cause of global warming is the emission of greenhouse gases that accumulate in the atmosphere. These gases include carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and ozone.

The greenhouse effect is when, sunlight reaches the earth service, some of these radiation waves are absorbed and warms the earth as most of the best waves are radiated back to the atmosphere at a longer wavelength than the sunlight. Some of this longer wavelength is absorbed by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere before being lost to the atmosphere. This has been experienced in Canada especially in the Eastern region. Those greenhouses gas act like a mirror by reflecting those rays to the earth service instead of being lost to space as heat energy. This reflecting back of heat energy is called the greenhouse effect.

The main source of carbon dioxide is the burning of fossil fuel by either through burning coals, oils, petrol, kerosene, etc. Therefore, global warming is caused by the emission of greenhouse gases that pollute the atmosphere and this goes hand in hand with industrialization, whereby, industrialized countries should be encouraged to take part in mitigating this effect.

If global warming is not reduced, shortly, the earth might become a very hot place that cannot sustain life. This is due to the expected increase of temperature on earth by about three to five degrees centigrade by the year 2100. Going on, if the earth’s temperature won’t be controlled, the rise of sea levels would be at least be twenty-five meters (82 feet) by the year 2100.

Why USA should join the Protocol

According to Jasmine Paul, the USA is a great nation that is more influential. Furthermore, the USA is more symbolic and therefore it should be the first country to show support since it is a member of the UN that encompasses the protocol. Besides that US largely contribute to global warming through industrialization. Going on, the US should conduct fair support, a sign of dedication to the nations that lose hope with the USA.

In the process of achieving the objectives of the Kyoto protocol, various countries would be forced to stop some activities or to meet the cost of disposing of the wastes. Therefore, the economic impact might arise in some countries (Hopkins Mark, 2004).

According to the Canadian environment news service, (OTTAWA, Ontario, Canada, September 20, 2007), the government cut her environment expenditure programs by 79%. The main purpose of doing this was because the government was draining money from other ministries in favor of supporting the environmental protocol.

Due to the demands of this protocol, the government of Canada is looking for alternatives as it tries to provide electricity for the future and to mitigate the pollution. Therefore, a more reliable and renewable energy source opts. This includes a nuclear plant or coal or both. In Ontario, an investigation shows that by the use of alternative power sources, energy demand would be reduced by 14900 MW by 2019. This would be supported by implementing biomass, windmill, and hydro-generating powers.

Acid rain and Canada

The USA does not support the protocol even after experiencing the effects of global warming. But Canada has suffered greatly through acid rain due to environmental pollution.¹ But to curb the problem, the government of Canada has adopted means of dealing with the problem. This mandated the federal government, provincial administration, and environment ministers to pursue more strategies for reducing pollution. This included negotiation with the USA, to reduce the emission of sulfur dioxide in the eastern region, to avoid air pollution, to ensure the need to hit targets toward emission reduction. This would include the introduction of acid rain science and mitigating programs.

One of these programs includes the adoption of a permit system. The permit system is very helpful to the Kyoto protocol but there is room for improvement and more debate. This permit is an emission license or authority that is given to a certain country or company to control the number of pollutants that can be emitted or released to the environment. These companies are entitled to hold a specific equivalent number of credits or allowances that indicate the amount that is supposed to be emitted. Emission permits or tracings are an administrative technique to control pollution through the provision of economic incentives or bans. This is aimed at reducing the emission of pollutants adhering to the Kyoto protocol.

The main issue is that companies that cause more pollution must buy credits from those that do not cause much pollution or transfer of allowances. The specified criteria of this treaty are that countries that release less than their quota of their emissions will be allowed to sell credits to countries that exceed their quota. This is aimed before 2013. The green party of Canada supports this idea but warn of the economic crisis that might result if the idea is neglected.

Due to the above factors, I do accept that this system would be very beneficial to Canada and other world nations since it is more economical if all measures are adhered to. Canada should be encouraged to adopt a Carbon permit system instead of a direct carbon tax to the citizens. This is cheaper. The economic factors of these trading emissions are that it is quite easy for a nation to mitigate its emission by applying a Command-control mechanism with directives, straight and indirect levies. Otherwise, the only problem with this mechanism is that it may cost the economy extra money to mitigate the pollution as compared to the trade cap scenario.

Critics

The criticism of this system of credit trade is that political influence can manipulate the system. It is argued that credit trading does little to solving pollution problems globally. This is under political influence and favors, Due to the habit of grandfathering that encourages big polluters to be carbon credit instead of being forced to be accountable.

However, the exchange of wealth from polluting countries to non-polluting nations leads to the provision of incentives that are supposed to be changed by the polluting nations. Furthermore, the controlling bodies are at the risk of corruption by giving out too many emission credits. This would change the whole idea of the Kyoto protocol.

Suzuki’s challenges

According to the Suzuki Foundation, this project won’t be achieved if proper mechanisms to implement and fund the project are not set. In another word, Suzuki emphasizes the methods and mechanisms toward the achievement of balanced inter-dependence. This is to say that the Earth should be maintained in a way that it can support and provide the basic human needs and support life without pollution.

According to Suzuki’s foundation, it is very hard for individuals and a country to abandon some activities. For instance, it is quite demanding to look for alternative methods to control pests instead of using pesticide chemicals. Further, it is very hard to reduce energy use in the home by 10% as he insists. Besides these factors, there are other challenges toward dedication to calumniate global arming. Some of these challenges include supporting alternative methods of transportation instead of using vehicles that pollute the atmosphere. Suzuki further insists on alternative methods to clear garbage instead of burning them.

Canada progress in policies concerning the environment

The government of Canada is trying to review some bills and policies to have the proper legal framework to control pollution. Some of the suggestions include the protection and preservation of the endangered species in Ontario and their habitats. This is a smart idea since the government can conserve natural biodiversity at large.

In the process, a review of Ontario’s Species at Risk legislation is in progress.

The Ontario government is taking the responsibility to review and update legislation that caters to endangered species and their habitats. (Bill 198 Safeguarding and maintaining the water of Ontario clause, 2007). Besides that, there is aimed proposal to change the Ontario Regulation 419/05 that covers parts of the air pollution act. The Ontario ministry is updating the clause on the safe soil and groundwater protection of the environment act. Other policies include environmental hazards and control factors. These rules and regulations are aimed at safeguarding the welfare of the environment.

Cina and India

Even if the developing nations have got no immediate restrictions according to the Kyoto protocol, they are highly vulnerable. But this protocol is moderate with India and China that are developing very fast. This is because these countries have been allowed to develop without restrictions. This is because pollution is associated with developed countries even if fast-developing countries can also cause pollution shortly. In addition to that developing nations may volunteer to join Annex I nations after becoming completely developed (Patchouli R. 2006)

Conclusion

According to the environmental activists, related agencies and scientists keep on warning the near-future consequences of global warming. The future of earth to support life is at risk. The natural biodiversity is also at risk and the future of food (Robert v, 2005). According to UN reports on global warming, there is an apocalyptic vision of Earth’s future. These threats include a shortage of clean and safe water, lack of enough food security especially in famine-stricken countries in Africa. In another word, the wildlife, reserves, and other habitats will be devastated.

If global warming is not reduced, shortly, the earth might become a very hot place that cannot sustain life. This is due to the expected increase of temperature on earth by about three to five degrees centigrade by the year 2100. Going on, if the earth temperature won’t be controlled, the rise of sea levels would be at least be twenty-five meters (82 feet) by the year 2100.

References

Canada environment policy and law. Web.
Environment protection in Canada Ottawa. Web.
Environment Canada and acid rain. Web.
Emission Permits hike as Canada says it might ratify the protocol, Bloomberg – 26
John Meligrana (2004, restructuring the local government in china. Web.
Ontario term policy. Web.
Ratifying Kyoto Protocol from law expert – ABC Online – 2007
Robert V and Lynton (2006), Canada’s environmental policy, University Academic Press
Robert V. Bartlett (2005), Trade freedom and the impact, Miller New York

Footnotes

1 Environment protection in Canada Ottawa, 1996

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