Whats Wrong with the Kyoto Protocol?
In face of the enormous potential threats from global warming, European and American environmentalists have been incensed by George Bush’s refusal to sign the Kyoto Protocol and his turnabout from the position of Bill Clinton and Al Gore. This is particularly galling as the United States is the largest emitter, especially per capita, and accounts for about 25% of the annual human-caused release of greenhouse gases. “It has become an extremely moral issue,” Marco Verweij conceded. Undaunted, he replied that “I would argue that the Kyoto Protocol is nonsense, that it could lead to a lot of corruption and have no appreciable effect.” He offered four criticisms: 1. It is entirely insufficient. “Most scientists say we need a 50% reduction of current levels by 2050 to stabilize world climate. But human emissions of greenhouse gases are expected instead to quadruple in the next hundred years. A 5.2% reduction in the next sixteen years would compound to an 8% reduction by the end of this centu
