Global emissions are now rising about 2 percent annually.
The only way to reduce them sharply is to have a worldwide cooperative plan to do so. The Kyoto protocol, negotiated in 1997, was one plan. But it would not have actually reduced greenhouse emissions. They would have continued rising even if the United States had adopted Kyoto. Undermining Kyoto’s effectiveness was the unwillingness of most developing countries — prominently China and India — to join. With mass poverty, they’re more interested in faster economic growth than in slower global warming.
Their refusal was one reason the Senate would never have ratified Kyoto. In 1997 senators passed a resolution 95 to 0 disapproving the Kyoto approach. The other reason is that even modest reductions in U.S. greenhouse gases might result in higher energy prices, more regulations, slower economic growth or all three.
While this won’t keep the usual supects (Democrats) from lying about Bush killing Kyoto, it is nice to see the record set straight again. No matter how often they try to lie about Kyoto, remember- George Bush did not kill Kyoto.
He simply had the common decency to provide the treaty with a proper burial.
