Sealing the Deal to Save the Climate

Chapter 6 Terms Ratify: Make a written agreement official by signing it. People usually ratify a treaty/an agreement/a decision etc. Textbook : Most nations-although not the historically largest emitter, the united states-ratified an international climate agreement termed the Kyoto Protocol.

Terms; continued Biosphere: The global sum of all ecosystems. It can also be called the zone of life on Earth. Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer: It acts as a framework for the international efforts to protect the ozone layer. However, it does not include legally binding reduction goals for the use of CFC’s, the main chemical agents causing ozone depletion This does not include legal framework, the Montreal Protocol does. Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer: (Protocol to the Vienna Convention) -Is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of a number of substances believed to be responsible for ozone depletion. The treaty was opened for signature on September 16, 1987 and entered into force on January 1, 1989 followed by a first meeting in Helsinki, May Since then, it has undergone seven revisions, in 1990 (London), 1991 (Nairobi), 1992 (Copenhagen), 1993 (Bangkok), 1995 (Vienna), 1997 (Montreal), and 1999 (Beijing).

Terms; continued Joint Implementation: Participating countries can trade unneeded emission allotments among themselves or work together jointly on projects that promote cutting emissions in any other participating industrial country. Emissions Trading Scheme: Cap and trade approach adopted by the European Union, in which 45% of CO2 emissions in the EU are restricted; the limited emissions are allocated among companies and any unused allotments can be traded. Bali Action Plan: Plan introduced to pick up where the Kyoto Protocol leaves off when it expires in The Bali Action Plan did not introduce binding commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but included the request for developed countries to contribute to the mitigation of global warming in the context of sustainable development. In addition, the Bali Action Plan envisaged enhanced actions on adaptation, technology development and on the provision financial resources, as well as measures against deforestation Sector Concept: Reducing emissions by combining companies into specific sectors and pledging emissions caps based on those sectors.

Terms; continued Kyoto Protocol The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The major feature of the Kyoto Protocol is that it sets binding targets for 37 industrialized countries and the European community for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Terms; continued Mitigation: Définitions: to lessen in force or intensity, as wrath, grief, harshness, or pain; moderate. to make less severe: to mitigate a punishment. to make (a person, one's state of mind, disposition, etc.) milder or more gentle; mollify; appease Usage in the chapter: Mitigation is used in the chapter because the main goal is to reduce pollution, make energy sources more efficient with less carbon emission, and to avoid deforestation.

Terms; continued Degradation: Definitions: Physical Geography: the wearing down of the land by the erosive action of water, wind, or ice. Chemistry: the breakdown of an organic compound. Usage in the chapter: The term degradation is used in the chapter because due to the development of industrialization deforestation and degradation is on rise. The countries are questioning themselves if they should allow the reduction in soil loss to compete with the reduction of fossil fuel emission, but all of the problems stated above are relative.

More … Dividends-anything received as a bonus, reward, or in addition to or beyond what is expected. As the issue of money is united with the concern of climate change, people are going to see an increase in taxes that go along with trying to search out possible solutions to a mounting climate problem. Power-to supply with electricity or other means of power. To give power to; make powerful On Page 186 of the book, it says that people really don’t want carbon based power, per se, What they really want is power itself, where it is flipping on a light switch, or turning the key in a car to make it start. Fairness-In a fair manner, straight; directly, as in aiming or hitting. Favorably; auspiciously.

… In this chapter, fairness is addressed because there are times when the wealthy have not taken one the greater commitment to contribute to change. Under the Greenhouse Development Rights proposal, the world’s wealthier countries and individuals would have to finance emissions reductions in low-income countries long after the emissions in industrial nations bottomed out to zero. Will the wealthy ever take on such obligations to help save the world’s climate problem? It is suggested that if they won’t, no one else will. Fortified-Having increased the effectiveness of. Strong, reinforced. If wealthier countries learn to help the below poverty level countries, and a common responsibility is understood as to how we all can start to bring permanent changes to the environment for the better, the world could turn into a planet full of fortified nations.