The Kyoto Protocol and Australia's resource consumption

Shereen
Balwyn High School
Australia

The Kyoto Protocol is an agreement that is less commonly known as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC or FCCC). It was signed and ratified by 141 countries and first opened for signing in Kyoto, on 11 December 1997. Its aim is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions before 2012. The burning of fossil fuels, such as oil and coal, causes greenhouse gases. The Protocol was enacted to counteract the negative impact of greenhouse gases. A range of countries including Spain, Cuba, Fiji, Turkmenistan, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Mauritius, Bangladesh, Norway, France, Iceland, Finland, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Kazakhstan and Croatia have signed it but have not yet ratified it. Australia, America, China and India, which are the major polluters, have also signed it but are not planning to ratify it. Countries such as Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq, East Timor, Turkey, the Vatican City, Brunei, Chad and Palestine have not signed at all. The Protocol is unlikely to work if the major polluters do not sign.

Economic considerations are stopping developed and developing countries from ratifying the agreement. This could be a problem leading to disastrous environmental consequences, such as, severe storms, expanding deserts, melting ice caps, which will cause sea levels to rise and flood coastal regions, as well as droughts and hurricanes. The greenhouse effect not only affects the climate, but will also cause some animals to become extinct due to the environmental changes. If nothing is done about global warming soon, the impact on humans could be catastrophic. Such effects would include an increased number of deaths due to heat waves, cholera, allergies, infectious diseases and even starvation from crops failing to grow. Economically, Australia is reluctant to endorse the Kyoto Protocol because their money will go to producing products that emit fewer gases instead of building growth industries. There is a concern that this will thereby reduce tax revenue. Australia depends on fossil fuels, especially brown coal, which emits huge amounts of greenhouse gases.

The concept of ‘carbon trading' allows countries who have ratified the Protocol to sell a percentage of their greenhouse gas emissions above their targets to other countries within the Protocol who have not achieved their targets.

Former US Vice President, Al Gore, is doing whatever he can to stop the environmental impacts of global warming. His campaign, called ‘Save Our Selves', aims to reach two billion people via the radio, internet, television and concerts (Live Earth) and prompt them to take action. He has teamed up with Richard Branson, a British billionaire, and announced to scientists that whoever can develop a solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help fight global warming will get a reward of $25 million. Al Gore told reporters, that ‘the planet has a fever and that prize money was an initiative to stimulate society to focus on global warming issues.' His documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, won an Oscar for best documentary in 2007. His documentary suggests that more than 90 per cent of global warming is due to humans and that temperature levels may rise by up to 6.4 degrees Celsius and sea levels by up to 59 centimetres by the end of this century! Branson told reporters that ‘the Earth cannot wait 60 years, we need every brilliant scientist to put their minds to it together and if I write this cheque for $25 million, it will be the best cheque I've ever written!'

The Australian Government is wrong to be thinking about using nuclear energy because it will produce radioactive waste that will stay harmful for hundreds of years. The waste has to be sealed up and buried for hundreds of years to allow the radioactivity to die away. There is a risk that toxic radiation could be released into the environment. Alternative energy sources, such as wind power, tidal energy, solar energy, geothermal power, magnetohydrodynamics generators, hydrogen and hydropower, should be considered. These are natural sources, where no pollution is produced.

Australia should sign the Kyoto Protocol and make a contribution towards fighting global warming by reducing gas emissions in Australia so that we can at least slow down global warming and reduce the risks of climate change, extinction and health problems. However, if Australia will not sign due to economic reasons, then alternative ways to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases we're emitting every year need to be considered. These can be using solar, wind and biomass energy, which do not harm the Earth. People could start using bicycles or public transport instead of cars as transportation. Using reusable bags at supermarkets is also a simple and helpful step to make. Taking shorter showers of only two or three minutes duration will also reduce resource consumption. Other steps include: switching power points and lights off whenever possible; using recycling bins; installing a dual flush toilet and AAA rated showerheads; using solar powered garden lights; turning off the tap when brushing teeth and using a glass of water for rinsing your mouth; buying products with minimal packaging; using the lowest temperature on cooling and heating; keeping chilled water in the fridge for drinking; using a washing machine and dishwasher only with a full load; planting more trees and saving water by putting waste water from the shower in a bucket for watering plants or providing water for your pets; using the washing machine's water for watering the plants; and using compost and mulch in the garden.

The government should also put more emphasis on educating school children about the effects of global warming and help make everyone more energy conscious. All these little changes will go a long way towards reducing the impact of global warming!

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