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Climate change needs action
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David Lee
US President Bush ignited an international firestorm of condemnation recently by announcing that the USA would not implement the 1997 Kyoto agreement on global warming which it signed and helped negotiate. Bush's reason for pulling out of the treaty is that supporting the pact would only do further damage to the nation's slowing economy, and therefore the US would not abide by the Kyoto agreements to cut emissions by 5.2 per cent from 1990 levels by 2012.
The Kyoto pact calls for countries to agree to legally binding targets for curbing greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming, especially carbon dioxide, most of which are produced by burning fossil fuel.
Global warming will almost certainly lead to disastrous weather changes and bring about a global crisis. The warming will cause melting of the polar ice caps, which will result in higher sea levels. This is bad news for everyone, but particularly for small Pacific Island nations whose citizens live less than a metre above sea level. They would be among the first to suffer from a rise in water levels. By the end of the century, the Intergovernmental Panel on climate change recently reported, melting ice caps could raise global sea levels by as much as 88cm. It estimated that the earth's temperature could increase up to 10.4 degrees Fahrenheit over the next 100 years.
What's more, weather has long been known to influence outbreaks of certain diseases. Dengue, malaria, yellow fever and other mosquito-borne diseases tend to increase during hot weather.
Bush is jeopardizing US credibility. It is astounding that the USA can so blithely disregard its obligation on such a central issue of world concern. The nation is world's largest source of greenhouse gases; even though it possesses only four per cent of the world's population, it spews out a quarter of the world's greenhouse gases, notably carbon dioxide.
Bush's pulling out of the international effort to cut emissions of the gases that lead to global warming appears to confirm a pattern of arrogant unilateralism in the emerging Bush foreign policy. This time the justification is that the United States is protecting its national interests with an eye to its slowing economy. However, recent surveys indicate that the US economy still remains strong, making Bush's remarks sound more like an excuse than a reason.
The US president is fooling himself if he thinks his nation can dodge its solemn commitments on global warming. Instead of worrying about the devastating effects of the uncontrolled emission of greenhouse gases will have in the 21st century, Bush clings to a self-centered dependence on outmoded technology and systems. Bush is encouraging oil and gas exploration. Some US analysts believe that Bush's retreat is a reward for the oil and coal industries that helped him in his presidential election, industries which are not renowned for their civic virtue.
The claim that promoting the Kyoto pact could jeopardize the US economy is a ridiculous argument because the fight against climate change can spur development of new technology and is therefore good for the economy. Bush has it exactly wrong, and is unable -- or unwilling -- to see the beneficial side effects of reducing greenhouse gases.
In withdrawing from an international treaty on climate change, Bush is undermining allies and sparking major environmental disruptions. The move also betrayed Washington's selfishness and arrogance, for it ignores and sacrifices other countries' efforts for environmental protection. Bush's attitude has drawn angry reactions from allies within the EU, where leaders said Bush has made a serious mistake with a withdrawal from multilateral action. The leaders, though, promised to salvage the deal. French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin said Bush's decision was a "serious unilateral act", and the Bush administration more like a unilateralist administration than an isolationist one. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he regretted Bush's move. In a letter signed by 10 prominent figures including former US President Jimmy Carter, Bush was urged to reconsider his opposition to the Kyoto pact.
Global warming is the most dangerous and fearful challenge to humanity under the next 100 years. Thanks to our burning of oil and coal burning, we have experienced a continuing wave of violent and chaotic weather across the globe. The human and economic costs are astounding. A recent report estimates that in a few decades climate change costs will total about US$300 billion a year.
The Kyoto treaty is scheduled to take effect next year after at least half the 110 nations, which signed the treaty, ratify it. However it is unlikely to take effect without the support of the USA. The USA can not sit in splendid isolation, and instead should do everything possible to support cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. Such an effort would bring tremendous economic benefits to the American people.
Letting the accord fail would be a fatal blow to the international efforts to protect the environment. Global warming is an unavoidable fact that no one can dodge. The earth is one and we should treasure it for our future generations.
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