Saturday, February 18, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
Awareness of the Kyoto Protocol
by: Kemp Russel Calalo
As I've come across this topic, I realized that many are not really aware of what the protocol is and what it is for. I've tried asking my friends and classmates if they have any idea on what this is all about. I think the government, the school or even the community that we belong must raise awareness in this such topic because it primarily concerns us humans, our well-being, our future.
If we promote this topic to our friends or even in the web, we can get a number of people who will become aware of the protocol and they would not be naive on the harmful effects of GHG emissions, we would know what to do to reduce it some might even devise ways to lessen the emissions of highly industrialized business sector which is really the main pollutants in the atmosphere.
I believe that this protocol has really good aims and it's just that a matter of compliance. Developed countries don't want to participate because it will hurt their economy, jeopardizing the state of our atmosphere. If we become more acquianted with environmental protocols such as these, in our own little ways, we can reduce GHG emissions and in turn would result to favorable effect on our society, government and the world. If all of us would just unite, it's not yet yet to save our world, discipline is the key.
As I've come across this topic, I realized that many are not really aware of what the protocol is and what it is for. I've tried asking my friends and classmates if they have any idea on what this is all about. I think the government, the school or even the community that we belong must raise awareness in this such topic because it primarily concerns us humans, our well-being, our future.
If we promote this topic to our friends or even in the web, we can get a number of people who will become aware of the protocol and they would not be naive on the harmful effects of GHG emissions, we would know what to do to reduce it some might even devise ways to lessen the emissions of highly industrialized business sector which is really the main pollutants in the atmosphere.
I believe that this protocol has really good aims and it's just that a matter of compliance. Developed countries don't want to participate because it will hurt their economy, jeopardizing the state of our atmosphere. If we become more acquianted with environmental protocols such as these, in our own little ways, we can reduce GHG emissions and in turn would result to favorable effect on our society, government and the world. If all of us would just unite, it's not yet yet to save our world, discipline is the key.
The Future of the Kyoto Protocol
by: Kemp Russel Calalo
The Kyoto Protocol which started last 1997 is nearing its end mark for its first contract. This year, 2012 the treaty between countries to implement the protocol will expire. The two top polluters of the world U.S and China, will now be joined by France, Russia, Canada and Japan in not participating in the treaty. It's been a long issue whether the protocol is really helping in cutting GHG emissions, because U.S and China has not been a member of the protocol, since they are the top polluters, some are saying that all efforts will just be in vain. Just last year, Canada withdrew their support due to continuous increase in their GHG emissions purchases. They said that their people will suffer as they will be required to pay higher taxes.
Developing countries that are part of the protocol insists that the protocol must be sustained in order for the conservation of the environment, the protocol is really beneficial to them due to the purchases of the developed countries. However, the aforementioned countries will not be joining the next round of the protocol, maybe they expect their GHG emissions to increase as time pass and they would not be able to shoulder all the expenses in they GHG emission purchases. Maybe they are withdrawing their support in order to ensure their economic feasibility.
Now, many are wondering what would become of the protocol, having those big developed countries withdrawing their support, will the protocol still be implemented? or if it's implemented, would it still make a significant effect on cutting GHG emissions? or Will the developed countries continues to emit GHG at an uncontrollable state that would eventually result to catastrophic effects on the environment?
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/05/29/its-all-over-kyoto-protocol-loses-four-big-nations/
The Kyoto Protocol which started last 1997 is nearing its end mark for its first contract. This year, 2012 the treaty between countries to implement the protocol will expire. The two top polluters of the world U.S and China, will now be joined by France, Russia, Canada and Japan in not participating in the treaty. It's been a long issue whether the protocol is really helping in cutting GHG emissions, because U.S and China has not been a member of the protocol, since they are the top polluters, some are saying that all efforts will just be in vain. Just last year, Canada withdrew their support due to continuous increase in their GHG emissions purchases. They said that their people will suffer as they will be required to pay higher taxes.
Developing countries that are part of the protocol insists that the protocol must be sustained in order for the conservation of the environment, the protocol is really beneficial to them due to the purchases of the developed countries. However, the aforementioned countries will not be joining the next round of the protocol, maybe they expect their GHG emissions to increase as time pass and they would not be able to shoulder all the expenses in they GHG emission purchases. Maybe they are withdrawing their support in order to ensure their economic feasibility.
Now, many are wondering what would become of the protocol, having those big developed countries withdrawing their support, will the protocol still be implemented? or if it's implemented, would it still make a significant effect on cutting GHG emissions? or Will the developed countries continues to emit GHG at an uncontrollable state that would eventually result to catastrophic effects on the environment?
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/05/29/its-all-over-kyoto-protocol-loses-four-big-nations/
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Remember Kyoto? Most Nations Don't
by: Shine Manching
According to Semple, to see whether the world can do a better job of controlling the man-made greenhouse gases, delegates from 194 countries gathered in Durban, South Africa. These nations promised to reduce emissions by about 5 percent below 1990 levels by 2012. Unfortunately, only 37 nations agreed to binding targets under the treaty. Global emissions of carbon dioxide rose by 38 percent and emissions from countries dropped by about one-third. Western Europe reduced emissions by 5 percent through substituting natural gas for coal and in Germany; renewable energy sources like solar power are greatly increasing. China and India made no pledges at Kyoto because they argued that the industrialized world caused most of the problems and therefore it is their responsibility to solve it. Thus, countries that did not agree to Kyoto have their emissions more than doubled and China’s have tripled. In the case of United States, President George W. Bush refused to ratify the Kyoto.
Emissions of carbon dioxide progressively increase in the 1990s. It then leveled off after the year 2000 because of rules involving more energy efficiency started to break down. Further developments are within reach. Old coal-fired power plants in the United States are closing, prices of natural gas dropped and automobiles are becoming more efficient. Sources like solar power are introduced in poor African nations. Are these moves enough? Approximately not. As scientists would say, “the world needs a wholesale shift in the way the world produces and uses energy, and the time window for such a shift is closing. The question at Durban is whether the world can act before the window slams shut”.
Source:http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/04/opinion/sunday/remember-kyoto-most-nations-dont.html?ref=kyotoprotocol
According to Semple, to see whether the world can do a better job of controlling the man-made greenhouse gases, delegates from 194 countries gathered in Durban, South Africa. These nations promised to reduce emissions by about 5 percent below 1990 levels by 2012. Unfortunately, only 37 nations agreed to binding targets under the treaty. Global emissions of carbon dioxide rose by 38 percent and emissions from countries dropped by about one-third. Western Europe reduced emissions by 5 percent through substituting natural gas for coal and in Germany; renewable energy sources like solar power are greatly increasing. China and India made no pledges at Kyoto because they argued that the industrialized world caused most of the problems and therefore it is their responsibility to solve it. Thus, countries that did not agree to Kyoto have their emissions more than doubled and China’s have tripled. In the case of United States, President George W. Bush refused to ratify the Kyoto.
Emissions of carbon dioxide progressively increase in the 1990s. It then leveled off after the year 2000 because of rules involving more energy efficiency started to break down. Further developments are within reach. Old coal-fired power plants in the United States are closing, prices of natural gas dropped and automobiles are becoming more efficient. Sources like solar power are introduced in poor African nations. Are these moves enough? Approximately not. As scientists would say, “the world needs a wholesale shift in the way the world produces and uses energy, and the time window for such a shift is closing. The question at Durban is whether the world can act before the window slams shut”.
Source:http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/04/opinion/sunday/remember-kyoto-most-nations-dont.html?ref=kyotoprotocol
Kyoto Protocol and the Philippines
Kyoto Protocol Put Force in the Philippines
by: Shine Manching
According to Paculdar and Parreño, the current crisis that the world is experiencing today is climate change which is an international issue that concerns all fields of research and expertise. Conferences and negotiations have been globally organized concerning climate change and one of its active supporters is the Philippines. An “expert dialogue” was conducted by the Institute of International and Legal Studies of the University of the Philippines (U.P.) College of Law as a contribution to its awareness campaign. It was cited by Atty. Casis, one of the speakers, that climate change is “a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to the natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods.” Today the major evidence of that phenomenon is global warming which is the “accumulation of greenhouse gases (GHG)—carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxides in the atmosphere; these trap the sun’s heat energy thus resulting in increases in the average global temperature”. GHG-emitting human activities are the cause of climate change and its effects are increase in sea level, increase in temperature, acidity of oceans and others. According to Atty. Casis, in the Philippines, agriculture, food security and health are the most affected sectors of climate change. We can survive the negative effects of climate change by limiting the GHG emissions, enhancing sinks or processes that remove greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and learning to adapt to changes in the environment. The major contributors to the currently high level of GHG in the atmosphere are developed countries. So, Kyoto Protocol which is the addition of a legally binding measure was approved by a number of nations. On February 16, 2005, the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement was put forced.
Kyoto Protocol in the Philippines
The Philippines has participated in the discussions and negotiations as a manifestation of the country’s commitment to engage in multilateral efforts aiming to address the global problem and achieve sustainable development. Those moves are leading to the ratification of various international agreements. On November 20, 2003, the Kyoto Protocol was ratified, one of the most important outcomes of the negotiations. The Medium Term Philippine Development Plan of 2004-2010 (MTDP), at the national level, underscored the need to manage the environment more effectively.
In order to advance the international community’s agenda on environmental preservation, developing countries such as the Philippines are required to implement national measures. To uphold the agreements embedded in the Kyoto Protocol, the Philippines passed national legislations. One of the earliest countries to recognize the importance of a systematic institutional response regarding to the problems arising was the Philippines. The Clean Air Act of 1999 and Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 were enacted to improve the effectiveness of the air quality management program. The IACC therefore ensures the Philippines’ faithful compliance to the mandates and principles contained in the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol and sees to it that adequate public awareness campaign and initiatives are held to bring the issue to all the sectors of the country.
References:
Casis, R. J. (2008, July). The Climate Change Crisis: Global Legal Framework, Policy Initiatives and the Philippine Response, Philippine Climate Change Policy: Mitigation and Adaptation Measures. Experts Dialogue, University of the Philippines Law Center, U.P. Diliman.
Evidente, M. (2008, July). A Philippine Response to Climate Change: Possible Strategies for Mitigation and Adaptation, Philippine Climate Change Policy: Mitigation and Adaptation Measures. Experts Dialogue, University of the Philippines Law Center, U.P. Diliman.
La Viña, A. (2008, July). Addressing Climate Change in the Philippines: An Integrated Adaptation-Mitigation Approach, Philippine Climate Change Policy: Mitigation and Adaptation Measures. Experts Dialogue, University of the Philippines Law Center, U.P. Diliman.
Leonen, M. V. F. (2008, July). The Limits of Law and Policy, Philippine Climate Change Policy: Mitigation and Adaptation Measures. Experts Dialogue, University of the Philippines Law Center, U.P. Diliman.
Merilo, M. G. A. (2008, July). Philippine Initiatives on Climate Change, Philippine Climate Change Policy: Mitigation and Adaptation Measures. Experts Dialogue, University of the Philippines Law Center, U.P. Diliman.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change [Internet].
http://www.researchsea.com/html/article.php/aid/3638/cid/6
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Joint Implementaion (JI)
by: Derwin Nantes
The Article 6 of the Kyoto Protocol defines the "Joint Implementation" mechanism. It says that it allows a county that is an Annex B member of the protocol, to launch a project that aims at emission-reduction/removal to another country which is also an Annex B member of the Protocol. That's why this is called Joint Implementation, it is a joint effort of countries that was also under the Kyoto Protocol.
The Joint Implementation project must also comply to some requirements. First, it must provide emission reductions greater than what would have occurred if the parties involved decides to work independently. The projects must also conform to the approval of the host party and participants must be also authorized by their respective governments.
JI projects that starts in the year 200 may be eligible projects if they meet the relevant requirements but credits may only be issued in the starting of the year 2008.
The Article 6 of the Kyoto Protocol defines the "Joint Implementation" mechanism. It says that it allows a county that is an Annex B member of the protocol, to launch a project that aims at emission-reduction/removal to another country which is also an Annex B member of the Protocol. That's why this is called Joint Implementation, it is a joint effort of countries that was also under the Kyoto Protocol.
The Joint Implementation project must also comply to some requirements. First, it must provide emission reductions greater than what would have occurred if the parties involved decides to work independently. The projects must also conform to the approval of the host party and participants must be also authorized by their respective governments.
JI projects that starts in the year 200 may be eligible projects if they meet the relevant requirements but credits may only be issued in the starting of the year 2008.
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