Kyoto Protocol
There is a consensus among the scientific community that increases in greenhouse gas emissions will affect climate. Considerable uncertainty, however, exists with regard to the magnitude of the effect, its timing, and its regional pattern. In addition, there is great uncertainty about changes in climate variability and regional impacts (Ha-Duong et al.,). In order to understand the underlying principles of potential climatic change, we must discuss what the greenhouse effect is, the nature of the gases to be controlled, and the effects this will have on the climate, if the controls are implemented. We will also look at human activities that may contribute to increased atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases and their effects on climate change. Then, we will look at the impacts that global warming may have on Earth's climate and consider possible immediate and long-term solutions. Finally, international cooperation for the control of greenhouse gas emissions will be addressed, with particular attention given to the most recent convention, the Kyoto Protocol. The greenhouse effect is the natural phenomenon that contributes to the Earth's
m by the year 2050, but may vary depending on the natural variability of the carbon cycle. Since action with respect to one problem will obviously affect other environmental problems, only a holistic approach can yield decisive results. The conference produced a major treaty on global warming that wanted to try to return CO2 emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000. The arguments that oppose government action say we cannot take responsible action now because we still do not know enough about what is happening to the atmosphere and how it will respond. There may be many societal responses to the aspect of global climate change. A dramatic increase in the average global temperature could significantly alter many important climatic features, such as rainfall patterns and regional drought. Ozone (O3) is generally found in the upper atmosphere, between about 15 and 40 km above the Earth's surface, with highest concentrations occurring at about 25 km. In December 1997, representatives from more than 160 countries gathered in Kyoto, Japan, to ratify a treaty regulating the emissions of greenhouse gases. It is estimated, for example, that the oceans have already absorbed more than a third and perhaps as much as a half of the excess CO2 emitted (IGBP Terrestrial Carbon Working Group, 1998). 5C, according to general circulation models (GCMs) (Kauppi, 1995). An additional important group of greenhouse gases is the commercially produced CFCs (Rodhe, 1990).
Common topics in this essay:
Terrestrial Carbon,
Climate Change,
Climatic Change,
Minister Environment,
Earth Earth,
Climate Models,
Long-term Solutions,
Montreal Protocol,
Protocol Introduction,
Conclusions Greenhouse,
climate change,
global warming,
greenhouse gases,
greenhouse effect,
greenhouse gas,
anthropogenic greenhouse,
et al,
greenhouse gas emissions,
gas emissions,
et al 1995,
al 1995,
water vapour,
botkin et al,
world resource institute,
resource institute 1994,
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Acceptance Essays
