Role of United States in Saving Mother Earth
Role of United States in Saving Mother Earth
Executive Summary
There is a classical saying in Tamil language, ‘You need a wall to paint a picture’. Mother Earth has given abundant of resources for its people. It is important to preserve and value our resources. 20th century has brought many advances in every aspect of human life; science has played a critical role in several of these advances. As development happened and quality of life improved it also created a deadly impact in the environment where we live by the way of greenhouse gas emissions in to the atmosphere. These emissions has started to dangerously interfere with the climate system and have been leading to flood, famine, widespread malnutrition, starvation, epidemic and increased mortality.
Gross World Product is around $60 Trillion in 2005 out of which U.S. has a share of $14 Trillion. So far US have been primary contributor to the greenhouse gas emissions. But the fast growing developing countries such as China and India are set to takeover U.S. in the coming years. World governments, corporations, small businesses and individuals in every country need to work to reduce greenhouse gases emitted in to the atmosphere. This report looks at the role of U.S. political system in the fight against saving mother Earth.
We are trying to understand the role of U.S. political system by understanding the issues surrounding climate change, U.S. stand on Kyoto protocol and a look at Strategic Plan designed by Executive Office. President Bush’s historical stand on climate change, role of international countries and groups to influence U.S. participation in reducing greenhouse gases. Presidential nominees opinions on climate change. Europe’s role in climate change, Increasing awareness through international media, noble peace prize, Hollywood movies. Finally we end with looking at the latest development in Bali convention and provide a strategic recommendation for U.S. government.
Our recommendation to the U.S. congressmen is to enact bills which would facilitate reduction of GreenHouse Gases by corporations, small businesses and individuals. Work with UNFCCCC closely to continue shaping the climate change plans. Work with developing and poor countries with their efforts to reduce GreenHouseGas(GHG) by transferring technologies an
Global Climate Change
Alarming number of scientific reports suggest that climate change is happening. Scientists have confirmed that earth is warming due to man-made sources such as car emissions and power plants. Due to combustion of fossil fuels, atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, the principal greenhouse gas, are at a level unequaled for more than 400,000 years. Following is an excerpt from PEW Climate change report.
“Carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases always have been present in the atmosphere, keeping the earth hospitable to life by trapping heat. Yet, since the industrial revolution, emissions of these gases from human activity have accumulated steadily, trapping more heat and exacerbating the natural greenhouse effect. As a result, global average temperatures have risen both on land and in the oceans, with observable impacts already occurring that foretell increasingly severe changes in the future. Polar ice
is melting. Glaciers around the globe are in retreat. Storms are increasing in intensity. Ecosystems around the world already are reacting, as plant and animal species struggle to adapt to a shifting climate, and new climate-related threats emerge”.
As we can see from the above figure global temperature trend is etching higher drastically over the last century. In last 10 years there has been noticeable increase in temperature. World metrological department has indicated that 2005 has been the hottest year on record. For United States, first 6 months in 2006 were the warmest such period on record.
Greenhouse gases have been identified as the root cause for such drastic temperature increase. Primarily greenhouse gases are emission of carbon-dioxide, burning of fossil fuels such as coal and oil, deforestation, agriculture and industrial processes.
U.S. faces climate change threat
United States with 5 percent world population is responsible for 25 percent of global GHG emissions, more than any other country. On an intensity basis US emissions are 50 percent higher than that of Japan.
Pew report designed various scenarios for major cities in U.S. Findings revealed that number of heat-wave days in the Midwestern cities can be expected to increase by 70% by the end of this century. This is a great danger for the growing population in these cities.
Pew report is indicating that every planner, developer, corporation and governmental agencies should be considering the effects of climate change in their projects.
Increasing awareness of Climate Change
There is a huge increase in general awareness of climate change among public. Awareness has been raised by the mammoth effort of the media. Following are the 2 major efforts which contributed to the increase in awareness. AN INCONVEINIENT TRUTH movie by former president AL Gore won OSCAR award and Al Gore received Noble peace price for 2007.
“Humanity is sitting on a ticking time bomb. If the vast majority of the world's scientists are right, we have just ten years to avert a major catastrophe that could send our entire planet into a tail-spin of epic destruction involving extreme weather, floods, droughts, epidemics an
AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, which offers a passionate and inspirational look at one man's fervent crusade to halt global warming's deadly progress in its tracks by exposing the myths and misconceptions that surround it.
Al Gore – former Vice President who in the wake of his 2000 presidential election defeat re-set the course of his life to focus on a last-ditch, all out effort to help save the planet from irrevocable change. This movie raised great awareness by winning several premier awards including OSCAR awards.
With wit, smarts and hope, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH ultimately brings home Gore's persuasive argument that we can no longer afford to view global warming as a political issue - rather, it is the biggest moral challenges facing our global civilization.
Global Awareness – Nobel Peace Price 2007
Ultimate awareness came when Nobel Committee announced the peace prize for 2007 would be shared by Al Gore. This really elevated the importance of global climate change among the public around the world. Attached in the appendix is the letter announcing the Nobel peace prize for 2007. Reading the attached letter would help understand the significance of climate change taking precedence over other peace issues.
United Nations and Climate Change
United Nations has taken the climate change issues very seriously. They have formed organizations which can work with various countries around the world. These organizations have conducted several meetings, conferences to get consensus from various countries. Following is an overview of UNFCCCC and the famous Kyoto protocol signed in Kyoto Japan – 2005.
UNFCCCC
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
The ultimate objective of this Convention and any related legal instruments that the Conference of the Parties may adopt is to achieve, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Convention, stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. Such a level should be achieved within a time-frame sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to ensure that food production is not threatened and to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner.
Kyoto Protocol
The Protocol requires developed countries to reduce their GHG emissions below levels specified for each of them in the Treaty. These targets must be met within a five-year time frame between 2008 and 2012, and add up to a total cut in GHG emissions of at least 5% against the baseline of 1990. Review and enforcement of these commitments are carried out by United Nations-based bodies.
The Protocol places a heavier burden on developed nations under the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities.” This has two main reasons. Firstly, those countries can more easily pay the cost of cutting emissions. Secondly, developed countries have historically contributed more to the problem by emitting larger amounts of GHGs per person than in developing countries.
President Bush and his policies on Climate Change
"Addressing global climate change will require a sustained effort, over many generations. My approach recognizes that sustained economic growth is the solution, not the problem – because a nation that grows its economy is a nation that can afford investments in efficiency, new technologies, and a cleaner environment."
- President George W. Bush
In February 2002 President Bush announced a voluntary 18-percent reduction of greenhouse gas intensity (the ratio of emissions to gross domestic product) by 2012. By this target emissions would actually raise as the economy grows. By 2004 U.S. emissions were 18 percent higher from 1990 levels and 2.6 percent higher from 2002 levels. Congress and Bush couldn’t come to an consensus to create a mandatory climate bill. This has hampered great progress being made in controlling the GHG emissions.
Bush Administration Stand on Kyoto
“Kyoto is, in many ways, unrealistic. Many countries cannot meet their Kyoto targets. The targets themselves were arbitrary and not based upon science. For America, complying with those mandates would have a negative economic impact, with layoffs of workers and price increases for consumers. And when you evaluate all these flaws, most reasonable people will understand that it's not sound public policy. ”
- President George W. Bush
International Actions on Climate Change
GHG emissions have not been a sole issue of U.S. In U.S. emissions are set to rise 8 percent above 2004 levels by 2010 and 28 percent by 2025. By comparison it is projected to hold steady in the EU and decline 5 percent in Japan by 2010. Emissions are rising rapidly at developing countries. China’s emissions are set to double and India’s emission is set to increase by 80 percent by 2025.
In 1992 countries signed the UNFCCCC with the objective to avoid dangerous human interference with the climate. 189 countries including U.S. has ratified the agreement. By 2005 governments launched new processes as described in Kyoto protocol.
The future of the international effort hinges in large measure on the United States – other major emitters are not going to participate without the participation of the major economy and emitter. As U.S. starts to strengthen the domestic response to climate change, it should start providing leadership needed for an long term global effort.
U.S. States & Climate Change
With little effort from Washington, various states and local leaders have taken various steps to implement the Kyoto protocol. Following graph shows the amount of regional initiatives being driven without the support of federal government.
U.S. Local Leaders & Climate Change
Businesses Readiness for Climate Change
No longer can businesses treat climate change as a non-risk. Time has come to take this risk seriously or else face the irreversible losses and consequences. Following are some of the studies done with which businesses are readily looking to minimize the climate change impact.
1. Threats to competitiveness
2. Physical risks to business
3. Disclosure of material risks
4. Regulation viewed as inevitable
The Presidential Candidates on Climate Change
A growing environmental awareness among Americans has brought the issue to the forefront of the 2008 presidential campaign. Both Republican and Democratic candidates have been asked to explain their stance on global warming during the debates and on the campaign trail. Most of the Democrats say the United States should lead the global effort to curb greenhouse emissions and advocate federally mandated emission laws. The Republicans, many of whom are unsure about the human role in climate change, tend to emphasize energy independence and efficiency.
- KITTY BENNETT AND FARHANA HOSSAIN
BALI Conference
The Conference, hosted by the Government of Indonesia, took place at the Bali International Convention Center and brought together more than 10,000 participants, including representatives of over 180 countries together with observers from intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations and the media. The two week period included the sessions of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, its subsidiary bodies as well as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol. A ministerial segment in the second week concluded the Conference.
The conference culminated in the adoption of the Bali roadmap, which charts the course for a new negotiating process to be concluded by 2009 that will ultimately lead to a post-2012 international agreement on climate change. Ground-breaking decisions were taken which form core elements of the roadmap. They include the launch of the Adaptation Fund as well as decisions on technology transfer and on reducing emissions from deforestation. These decisions represent various tracks that are essential to achieving a secure climate future.
Strategic Recommendations
1. Our recommendation to the U.S. congressmen is to enact a mandatory climate bill which would facilitate reduction of GreenHouse Gases by corporations, small businesses and individuals.
2. Work with UNFCCCC and lead the BALI Roadmap closely to continue shaping the climate change plans. Work with developing and poor countries with their efforts to reduce GreenHouseGas(GHG) by transferring technologies an
3. U.S. should actively participate in the Emission Trading Scheme which would greatly enhance the participation of every country.
Merits & DeMerits of The Strategic Recommendations
Mandatory Climate Bill
Merits :
- Climate bill which would clearly specify the reduction targets for GHG
- Initial support to businesses, individuals to comply to the target
- Increased quality of life, less pollution, stable economy
- Less footprints on mother earth
DeMerits :
- Business and individuals may have to incur an initial expense to comply
- Some industries need to change their business practices, e.g. Automobiles
- United States has to reduce its dependency on oil
- Pressure on new technologies to be mature sooner they were supposed to
Bali Roadmap
Merits :
- Next step to
- Increased agreement from developing countries
- Includes technology transfer to poor countries
- Reducing emissions from deforestation
DeMerits:
- Impact to logging industry
- Intellectual property issues
- Developing countries commitment/adherence to Bali Roadmap
Emission Trading Scheme
Merits :
- Increased compliance with international standards.
- On par with European Union standards.
- Highly competitive environment
DeMerits :
1. Impacts to some businesses
2. Corporations need to increase spending to fix the emissions of GHG.
3. Some businesses might go out of business.
APPENDIX
The Nobel Peace Prize 2007
"for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change"
“ The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2007 is to be shared, in two 
equal parts, between the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Albert Arnold (Al) Gore Jr. for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change.
Indications of changes in the earth's future climate must be treated with the utmost seriousness, and with the precautionary principle uppermost in our minds. Extensive climate changes may alter and threaten the living conditions of much of mankind. They may induce large-scale migration and lead to greater competition for the earth's resources. Such changes will place particularly heavy burdens on the world's most vulnerable countries. There may be increased danger of violent conflicts and wars, within and between states.
Through the scientific reports it has issued over the past two decades, the IPCC has created an ever-broader informed consensus about the connection between human activities and global warming. Thousands of scientists and officials from over one hundred countries have collaborated to achieve greater certainty as to the scale of the warming. Whereas in the 1980s global warming seemed to be merely an interesting hypothesis, the 1990s produced firmer evidence in its support. In the last few years, the connections have become even clearer and the consequences still more apparent.
Al Gore has for a long time been one of the world's leading environmentalist politicians. He became aware at an early stage of the climatic challenges the world is facing. His strong commitment, reflected in political activity, lectures, films and books, has strengthened the struggle against climate change. He is probably the single individual who has done most to create greater worldwide understanding of the measures that need to be adopted.
By awarding the Nobel Peace Prize for 2007 to the IPCC and Al Gore, the Norwegian Nobel Committee is seeking to contribute to a sharper focus on the processes and decisions that appear to be necessary to protect the world’s future climate, and thereby to reduce the threat to the security of mankind. Action is necessary now, before climate change moves beyond man’s control. ”
| THE CANDIDATE |
| STANCE ON GLOBAL WARMING |
| IF ELECTED, THEY SAY THEY WOULD ... |
| PAST ACTIONS ON THE ISSUE |
| Hillary Rodham Clinton
|
| The scientific consensus is clear and overwhelming: we are causing the planet to warm, with potentially devastating consequences. We need to take immediate steps to address this problem. Critics contend that action will be too costly, but I believe that action is both an environmental necessity and an economic opportunity. By putting the right incentives in place, we will drive American businesses to innovate, creating new products and new jobs. Failing to act is the riskier course to both our environment and our economy. -- Statement on a United Nations report on climate change,
Given the scientific evidence that we have and the potential consequences of continued warming, I strongly believe this nation needs to take sensible first steps to slow and ultimately reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases that contribute to climate change. -- Statement on a United Nations report on climate change, |
| Have the |
| Co-sponsored the "Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act" in 2007, which would require the |
| Barack Obama |
| Strengthened institutions and invigorated alliances and partnerships are especially crucial if we are to defeat the epochal, man-made threat to the planet: climate change. ... As the world's largest producer of greenhouse gases, -- Wrote in the Foreign Affairs magazine, July/August 2007 issue |
| Support implementation of a market-based cap-and-trade system to reduce carbon emissions 80 percent by 2050. |
| Co-sponsored the "Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act" of 2007, which would require the |
| Mitt Romney |
| EMPHASIZES ENERGY EFFICIENCY; You're seeing the climate get warmer or climate change is occurring and I believe that human activity is contributing to that. I don't know what proportion of the change is due to human activity but my policy is to adopt what I refer to as a 'no regrets policy' -- to take action that allows us to become more energy efficient and ultimately become energy independent as a nation. ... I would like to see us work on a global basis on this effort. I really don't think it's productive for us to act solely on a unilateral basis to reduce our greenhouse gases if we have developing nations like -- Business and Industry Association National Leaders Forum, |
| Advocates |
| Proposed "Climate Protection Plan" as |
Reference:
http://www.climatecrisis.net
Al Gore’s AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH Movie Website
www.pewclimate.org
The Pew Center on Global Climate Change brings together business leaders, policy makers, scientists, and other experts to bring a new approach to a complex and often controversial issue. Our approach is based on sound science, straight talk, and a belief that we can work together to protect the climate while sustaining economic growth.
http://politics.nytimes.com/election-guide/2008/issues/climate/index.html
The Presidential Candidates on Climate Change
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2007/press.html
Press release for 2007 peace prize
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