Will Hillary Clinton sign the Kyoto protocol if she became the next President? & your opinions on Kyoto?

Question

The newly elected prime minister of Australia will ratify the Kyoto protocol next month making the UNITED STATES the only country in the world to oppose it.

I have googled to seee whether Hilary Clinton would sign the Kyoto protocol if she were elected as president and found nothing (i dont know if she has said anything yet but...). And if you don't know do you think she will sign up?

If anyone knows her stance on this matter please say so with references if possible.

Also what are your opinions on the Kyoto Protocol?- are you happy witht the position your country is taking and should "developing" (note the " " marks) countries like China and India have some/the same objectives?

In my opinion, I am happy that the New Zealand governement has chosen to ratify Kyoto and countries like China and India should have some objectives too but not as as strict

Yes it does kinda run out in 2012 but those objectives are still relevant and Kyoto II will be implmented (i think)

Answer 1

i hope; she will.

Answer 2

My guess is that Clinton would sign the Kyoto Protocol as a symbolic gesture, but there's no way we can meet its emissions reductions goals by 2012 at this point, considering how much our emissions have increased over the past few years.

My opinion of Kyoto was that it was a small step in the right direction. It only required that the signing countries reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by a small amount, but this would get the ball rolling for larger future reductions.

I think the next agreement after Kyoto will have significantly larger emissions reductions goals.

Answer 3

The aim of the Kyoto Protocol was to return CO2 emissions to 1990 levels, but I was reading that no countries are making any significant changes to accommodate these targets.

The assessment seems to be based on self assessment without outside auditing. There seems to be a lot of creative accounting in how these targets are reached (In the case of Australia, Kyoto targets were to be met by not clearing land that would have been cleared). A lot of world leaders - including Kyoto signatories have described Kyoto as symbolic.

I don't think it is symbolic, I think it's a wait and see approach. Wait and see what happens to oil prices and sustainable technology and global temperatures, then we'll all be in a better position to know what to do. The body will already be set up and agreements in place should drastic steps become necessary and oil need to be globally rationed.

(edit) to Nickel

You and I seem to be reading the same thing and drawing different conclusions. Sure most of the Kyoto signatories are saying yes sure we're on track and we didn't even have to implement any new measures to achieve it.

You think 'what a success' and I (being naturally sceptical) think 'looks like creative accounting to me'.

Answer 4

the kyoto agreement runs out in 2012 anyway

we all, but the major polluting countries in particular, need to sign up to much tougher binding agreements in the next round kicking off soon in Indonesia.

for an informed view on clinton as given to a presidential forum see the grist blog http://gristmill.grist.org/

http://www.grist.org/news/

PS Wombat: a good place to start looking for alternative sustainable cultural ideas is http://greatturningtimes.org

Answer 5

as long as well being is based on a consumption economy it will be hard to make highly industrialized countries slow down production. What I would like to see is a new theory on how humanity can attain prosperity (as in physical, mental and spiritual well being) which is not based on amassing wealth, and worse, hoarding crap! I mean look at all the unnecessary junk people have in their homes... imagine how many trees, coal, petrol, animals, whatever resources could have been saved if we just bought and consumed what we really needed or really liked. Really if anyone has an alternative model out there, one that people are willing to accept, please offer it. And I agree that buying carbon credits is definitely a method for the semi conscientious elites to feel better about their wasteful habits, it doesn't solve the problem.

Answer 6

If it was such a great idea here husband would have signed it when he was president. The exemptions it gives to China and India make this a economic suicide pact that will seriously hurt the economies of the industrialized world.

Answer 7

Sadly I think that the Kyoto protocol like the UN has absolutely no meaning if even one country does not sign, something is likely to happen.

Anyway even if the states do sign, there's no chance China will cut down on pollution in the near future as they care for nothing apart from their economy.

Answer 8

Ben O: Read recent articles. Kyoto participants are on track to achieving their emission reductions to 5% (on average) below 1990 level with some like Germany, Britain and Sweden on tracks to reducing emissions by between 15 to 30%.

In the meantime countries not trying to reach a Kyoto target saw their emisssions grow:
US: +16% Canada: +30%

And please don´t tell me about CO2 intensity per unit of GDP produced because in this case due to its strong growth China outperformed every other country.

The performance ouf countries to achieve their target is verified and OUTSIDE AUDITING IS DONE (paid by WWF, Greanpeace and co which want to see environmental integrity).

PLEASE REMEMBER: The China we negociated the Kyoto Protocol with in the 90´s had a GDP per capita of $500 compared to $30,000 per capita in the US.
A US citizen still emits 6 times more CO2 than a Chinese.

China has recently announced it will aim to stabilize its emissions to its 2005 level and has a plan to reduce emissions by 1,500 Mt below Business as Usual levels.

What has the US exactly done until now? Can you remind me?

Answer 9

no she said she will not sign it, to her credit , kyoto is a joke. But many people around the world fall for these types of stupid things, I mean look how many fools are paying for these so called carbon credits, if al gore can make 100 million dollars selling a piece of paper to someone else so they can use fuel like anyone else already does?????? it just kills me , why cant I sell mud credits? ok its like this , I will sell you some mud credits , then you can continue to walk on the ground , anywhere you wish without fear of denting the earth beyond repair, or stepping on ants. If you do step on a ant , and somebody says"hey jerk! you just killed that ant, you murderer!!!" you just wave your mudhole credit in their face and say" Im covered dude , I can do whatever I want to"

Answer 10

Probably - That seams like the liberal thing to do.