e “had no intention of ratifying the Kyoto Protocol” (History 2). This threw the climate control regime into disarray and doubt. This is because the Kyoto Protocol will only be enforceable after it has been ratified by at least 55 members of the U. N. Framework Convention on Climate Control (History 2). This includes the U. S., a country that is responsible for 36% of the 55% of total carbon dioxide emissions accumulating from developed nations (History 2).
After some technical issues were resolved at the Marrakech accords in 2001, the Buenos Aires Plan of Action were brought to completion. This opens the possibilities for more countries to ratify the Protocol, giving it the power to enforce its provisions. However, without ratification of the Protocol by nearly all developed countries it is unlikely it will be adopted. After 55 countries ratify the Protocol, it will enter force 90 days later.
There debate over global warming continues to occur, even though dramatic climate changes continue to occur worldwide. Those countries that have ratified or those who are most in favor of ratifying the Protocol tend to support the evidence that supports global warming as an actuality not a fabrication. Those countries most opposed to the Protocol tend to believe global warming does not exist or has been exaggerated by scientists and environmental alarmists. So, too, those countries most opposed to the ratification of the Protocol are responsible for most of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions, like the U. S., Japan, and Canada. Some, like the U. S. argue there are cheaper and more effective ways of dealing with any threat imposed by such a warming. Since Marrakech, the U. S. has worked on its own approach to controlling greenhouse gas emissions. By many accounts the Marrakech accord was a failure because so many countries that are responsible for producing the most emissions won concessions. Japan, Australia, the European...