Compare opinions of world leading experts and influencers.

FAQ Send Feedback Sign Up Login

Global Warming Politics Topic Index

Add Expert Opinion Edit Question Edit Implications History

Should the Kyoto protocol be adopted?

The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. There is debate over the effectiveness of the protocol, and some of the largest greenhouse emitters such as the United States and China have not signed or ratified the treaty.

Implications to Other Questions

+

If you believe A then presumably you believe B

Is substantially reducing CO2 emissions worthwhile?

Experts and Influencers

Suggest Expert Quote (click to expand, no login required)

Agree

Experts In Politics

Kevin Rudd Australian Prime Minister, 2007-2010

Agree

Australia's official declaration today that we will become a member of the Kyoto Protocol is a significant step forward in our country's efforts to fight climate change domestically - and with the international community.

Edit Pitches

03 Dec 2007 Source

Barack Obama United States President

Agree

We will establish strong annual targets that set us on a course to reduce emissions to their 1990 levels by 2020 and reduce them an additional 80 percent by 2050.

Edit Pitches

18 Nov 2008 Source

Neutral

Encyclopedia

Wikipedia World's Largest Encyclopedia

Neutral

Economists have been trying to analyze the overall net benefit of Kyoto Protocol through cost-benefit analysis. There is disagreement due to large uncertainties in economic variables. ... The recent Copenhagen consensus project found that the Kyoto Protocol would slow down the process of global warming, but have a superficial overall benefit. Defenders [argue] that while the initial greenhouse gas cuts may have little effect, they set the political precedent for bigger cuts in the future.

Edit Pitches

27 Apr 2009 Source

Disagree

Experts In Politics

Bjorn Lomborg Politics Professor, Economist, Writer

Disagree

And this is why global warming economic models show that dealing with climate change the way we do is a very bad idea. We need smarter ideas. We should invest in research and development. The Copenhagen Consensus states that for each dollar we invest in R&D we yield 60 dollars, whereas if we invest in Kyoto-style policies it is less than a dollar back on a dollar. That’s the difference between doing something really smart and something pretty stupid.

Edit Pitches

19 Jun 2008 Source

Sub-Arguments Of This Expert:
Is substantially reducing CO2 emissions worthwhile?
Mostly Disagree

George W. Bush United States President 2001-2009

Disagree

Kyoto is, in many ways, unrealistic. Many countries cannot meet their Kyoto targets. The targets themselves were arbitrary and not based upon science. For America, complying with those mandates would have a negative economic impact, with layoffs of workers and price increases for consumers. And when you evaluate all these flaws, most reasonable people will understand that it's not sound public policy.

Edit Pitches

11 Jun 2001 Source

John Howard Australian Prime Minister 1996-2007

Disagree

This government does not believe it is in Australia's interests to sign the Kyoto Protocol. ... Until such time as the major polluters of the world, including the United States and China, are made part of the Kyoto regime it is next to useless and indeed harmful for a country such as Australia to sign up to the Kyoto Protocol.

Edit Pitches

16 Feb 2005 Source

Comments

Add Your TakeOnIt (click to expand, no login required)

0 Points OmnipotentRabbit 10 Apr 2010 Stance on Question: Mostly Agree

The Kyoto Protocol will surely do something about the problem, but most of the problem is the US and China (particularly China) in the first place. And since the former is recovering from economic shock and the latter refuses anything less than 18th Century ecological policies, it is doubtful it will have much effect. But the effort, particularly in countries like Germany, is most definitely appreciated since it helps raise environmental awareness and encourages research for more energy-efficient machines, while the US and China fester in inefficiency.

0 Points Clive 01 Apr 2009 Stance on Question: Agree

I agree, the Kyoto protocol will help to reduce carbon emissions and we need these incentives and targets to make it happen. I don't think it's the be all and end all but it at least gives us targets.

0 Points Brycges 21 May 2009 General Comment

I agree, we need to take action in some way, the Kyoto is a good way to start, we need to adopt this and make it better.