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| HEATED DEBATE November 10, 1997 |
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Return to this forum's introduction.
Questions answered in this forum:Can the science behind global warming predictions be trusted? Can an effective program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions be created? Should there be a tax on gas-guzzling vehicles? Could nuclear power reduce America's greenhouse gas emissions? Can a system of emissions credits reduce America's production of greenhouse gases? Should developing countries be included in a global climate treaty? Viewer comments
NewsHour Coverage
October 22, 1997:
A discussion of President Clinton's plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
June 25, 1997:
President Clinton is backing the EPA's push for tougher air quality standards, but critics say they're too costly.
February 18, 1997:
The federal Environmental Protection Agency has proposed new clean air standardsthat have been criticized by some industry, state and local officials.
March 6, 1997:
The fastest rise in temperature for perhaps ten thousand years is having a dramatic effect on the brittle ecosystem of Antarctica.
January 4, 1996
British meteorologists report that the Earth's surface temperature was higher than the average in 1995.
Browse the NewsHour's coverage of science and the environment.
OUTSIDE LINKS:
EPA Web site on global warming
Environmental Defense Fund
Sierra Club
And, finally, the Online NewsHour asks: Much has been made of the fact that the developing world could be excluded from a global climate treaty negotiated in Kyoto. Do you think developing countries should be considered in any treaty negotiated in Kyoto?
Carl Pope of the Sierra Club responds:
Of course they should be, and are being, considered. But they will only embark upon an economic future that depends on renewables, not fossil fuels, once we do. We should expect and demand that they follow -- but in turn, we must lead. The President's proposal does not go far enough.
We need substantial reductions below 1990 levels before 2010 -- and they need to be enforcable.
Dr. Michael Oppenheimer of the Environmental Defense Fund responds:
Definitely, but with different requirements than industrial countries. The greenhouse gas problem cannot be solved in the long term without including developing countries. But it is unreasonable to expect them to take the lead since industrialized countries are now responsible for most emissions and have created most of the problem to date. A system should be established to involve the developing countries in voluntary projects that reduce emissions. If the industrial countries live up to their own commitments, then binding commitments should be made by developing countries.
All this must happen quickly, because developing country emissions are expected to grow rapidly over the next few decades.
Karen Karrigen of the Global Climate Information Project responds:
First of all, inclusion of the developing nations presupposes that global warming is a real threat and that something drastic needs to be done. But if something is going to be done, it must be truly global, and so all countries should be legally engaged.
Despite the fact that developing countries are "excluded" from the treaty, they are indeed playing a major role in drafting the treaty. At the same time, they decry any efforts to officially join the treaty's obligations. In fact, as developing countries demand that the U.S. drastically reduce our emissions, they are requiring that funds be established to minimize any adverse social, environmental and/or economic impacts that may befall them as a result of the treaty. The developing countries who may feel a need to tap "the funds" may decry certain hardships like the precipitous drop in the U.S. purchasing its goods because of a poor U.S. economy; or use the excuse that the invasion of U.S. companies (and capitalism) are causing major cultural upheavals. In other words, this is a lose-lose scenario being pushed by developing countries.
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