The Kyoto Protocol: A failure? A successful step in the right direction?

I support the Kyoto initiatives but have often wondered if they'll really make a difference - if they're not already too little, too late in terms of reversing the global warming effect. What I like most about the Kyoto package is the offset "payments" made by the big carbon generating countries to countries willing to protect their rain forests for use as carbon storage. I believe California is considering joining this arrangement if the exchange can be properly measured. Any measures to save the rainforests, whether it saves us or not, is a good thing. Should we all perish due to our own irresponsibility, rainforests may be the one place where life can survive and prosper again.

I'm not surprised that Canada pulled out considering it's actual emissions number but am surprised that they seem to have had little to no intention of meeting their emissions commitment. It always comes down to money, doesn't it? I blame US influence.

 

The Kyoto protocol was ill-conceived, badly planned, and poorly implemented.

And NECESSARY.

Little is perfect the first time around. I do not subscribe to anthropomorphic global warming as being proven yet, but I do believe the earth is warming for some reason. The potential impact on humans is disastrous. IF AGW is real, then we absolutely need to take steps to stop it, and Kyoto, while imperfect, is at least an attempt. And one that can be modified/improved. Usually it is far easier to promote change from within than from without. Only when something is broken beyond repair do you abandon it.

I don't think Kyoto, despite my dislike of some of its provisions, had reached that point. Do I think it's shameful Canada has backed out? Not really, but I do think it's more narrow-minded politicising due to our current government's views on the environment than a real principled stand against a bad agreement.

 

I gotta say, I feel immense apathy about the whole global warming/Kyoto thing. I personally believe, it's all "too little, too late" to do anything now about the imminent demise of humanity. This sort of international agreement should have been done in the 70's when everyone was worried about nuclear war. It all comes down to the allmighty dollar. We could have had alternatively fueled engines for transportation, but the auto manufacturers bought the patents so they would never be built. I think the global climate change is inevitable now, we are past the tipping point where we could have reversed it. We might survive, humans are tenacious that way, but it's going to take fundamental shifts in economy and lifestyle that I just don't see anyone doing.

 

I'm pretty apathetic as well in re: Kyoto as too little, too late. We did know of how awful things were going to be now back in 1970, the first year of 'Earth Day.' I was 10 y.o. then and I actively worried about it. We just kept dicking around...letting big business dictate environmental policy.
It's simplistic-sounding but fairly on the money. As the U.S. goes, so goes Canada.
I'm pissed about the tar sands, though.

Stop with the tar sands, already. Canada is getting a huge shiner as greedy bastards on that one.
NIMBY.

 

Canada's ascription to Kyoto was voluntary. Its withdrawal is its choice. Canada has no natural interest in not using its resources. Witness waste directed. The protocol wasn't meant to inhibit progress.

 

I am not too concerned about our withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol. I agree with Greywolf; Kyoto had it's issues, many of which are significant, but it was a necessary first step. Moving beyond, now, needs to happen. An extension is not an option.

The Canadian position that polluters such as the US, and "developing" nations such as Brazil, China, and India, need be on board is sound. Can sufficient results come from a range of bi-lateral and unilateral actions? Yes. But it would be slow, and inefficient. We need everyone in this, and everyone must be subject to a hard cap. Developed and developing nations can negotiate how the former should compensate latter, but it should be in the form of technology improvements so that developing nations can skip past a phase of using unsustainable fuels as we did.

It is not too late to mitigate the total level of climate change. We will have to accept that we can hold off a 1-2 degree, and that other mitigation measures (moving or dyking cities, increased levels of storm protection, geoengineering) may be required.