Kyoto Protocol Comes Into Force

Cally writes "The controversial Kyoto Treaty regulating CO2 emissions finally comes into force today. The BBC has several stories and backgrounders, and notes that international pressure is now mounting on the USA to take action as well, as the scientific consensus is well established. A key question is whether the US economy will benefit relative the rest of the world, with some arguing that new technologies such as clean power generation and energy efficient appliances will provide an economic boost."

Comments

There has to be an incentive

[kahei]

If other countries want the US to do something, especially something difficult and expensive, they have to offer it an incentive. Relying on pure generosity on the part of Uncle Sam is -- well, strange. I'm amazed by how long it's taken for a reasonable answer to the question 'how do we make the USA do stuff, when it's too strong to just force it' to appear.

Of course, the size of that incentive is going to have to be pretty big -- huge, even. But if reducing CO2 emissions is as important as the Europeans keep saying it is, surely they'll be happy to foot the bill. If they _won't_ foot the bill for the US to reduce emissions, doesn't it sound a bit like global warming is a serious threat only when it's someone else who has to do something about it?

So, is global warming important enough for Europe to cough up some money to reduce US emissions? Because if not, I don't see why the US should make sacrifices to reduce it. ...

Heh, just kidding. The various fallacies in the comment above are pretty clear, as is the shortsightedness and unfairness of US policy. But for a second, I bet you thought I was a real libertarian, didn't you? Seriously, I almost convinced myself.

You may now mod me down :)