What was the name of that contract (or treaty or whatever you call it) that Bush refused to sign?

Question

It was about countries around the world doing something against global warming. I believe that it included all the things the country would do against global warming...something like that. Al Gore supports it, I'm sure. I know that Bush refused to sign it, but I want to know the name. Thanks!

Answer 1

Kyoto was dead in the water before Clinton signed it. Senate would not ratify it - not one single vote Democrat or Republican.
Clinton signed it as a symbolic gesture, but it made no difference, just as it would not have made any difference if Bush had decided to sign it.

But let's look at the BIG picture:
" Since 1997, when the Kyoto Protocol was first signed, the US has now made more progress in reducing its per capita fossil fuel emissions than the UK, France, Spain, Finland, Sweden and Japan even before its economic growth is considered."
http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/557721/us_beats_europe_over_co2_control/index.html?source=r_science

So are symbolic gestures better than real action?

Answer 2

It was the Kyoto Protocol (or Kyoto Accord). As Noone has stated, it was signed on behalf of the US government by Al Gore. However, it wasn't ratified by the US and that's the key issue. Effectively the US agreed to it but refused to be bound by it. The other country not to have ratified it is Australia.

Contrary to some of the other answers it has had an overall positive impact and many of those nations that have, or have tried to adhere to it's requirements have successfully reduced their greenhouse gas emissions. This has been most noticeable in Europe (including Russia and the former Soviet Bloc countries) which has acheived significant reductions in GHG emissions. For example, emissions fell by 17% in Germany and 14% in the Uk whilst at the same time they rose 16% in the US.

Whilst emissions from some countries have increases it's fair to say that they would have increased more had it not been for Kyoto.

Here's a page showing how different country's GHG emissions have changed http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_carbon_dioxide_emissions_per_capita and here's a page about Kyoto http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto_Protocol

Answer 3

I am going to assume you are talking about the Kyoto Protocol and your remark the "Bush refused to sign (it)" shows your general ignorance of both the specific protocol or how treaties of this type work.

The U.S. did sign the Kyoto Protocol. This was done during Pres. Clinton's administration. Vice President Gore was the actual signatory. Since the treaty was already signed by the time Pres. Bush came into office, there was no reason, or even opportunity for him to sign or not.

In the U.S. treaties do not become effective just because they have been signed by the executive branch. The must be ratified by the legislature. The Kyoto protocol has never been ratified by the U.S. legistature. In fact, it has been rejected several times. Both during the Clinton/Gore administration and the current Bush/Cheney administration. It is extremely unpopular among the electorate as it is seen to be detrimental to our interests and essentially ineffective at addressing climate change in any substantive way. It is unlikely that it will ever be ratified. But, it was signed by the U.S. and that remains to be the case.

Answer 4

Kyoto.... and was Bush supposed to sign OVER Clinton's signature.

The Senate could ratify that treaty any day they felt like it. They don't want to and I thank God every day that there are enough people that will put away politicking just enough to not pass carbon taxes.

Answer 5

It is Kyoto Protocol, the first international agreement to fight global warming. It was signed by 141 nations, including all European Union and all other developed industrial nations except the US and Australia (Australian Prime Minister John Howard is also stupid like Bush -- what can I say, stupidity loves company).

The pact went into effect on February 16, 2005, and expires in 2012. The Kyoto Protocol has been celebrated by its backers as a lifeline to save our planet from disastrous human-caused effects of a warming global climate.

Bush's own words: "Kyoto treaty would hurt economy".

This is what I wanna know...If we're all DEAD...what good is it economy???

Answer 6

Kyoto Protocal...intended to cut Carbon dioxide emmissions below the 1990 level by 2012.

Clinton administration signed onto it (wasnt ratified)...and then Bush took us off it

Answer 7

You probably mean the Kyoto Treaty.

Answer 8

It is called the Kyoto Accord.
http://mindprod.com/environment/kyoto.html

Answer 9

As your question has already been answered, i'll add a little information. America, with just 4% of the worlds population, is responsible for 25% of the worlds greenhouse gases. Anybody still think they don't need to take any action?

Answer 10

the kyoto treaty