1. A Plan to Curb Greenhou se Gases 英二 1 26 th Dec. 2012

2. Summary  As sunlight shines on the Earth, solar radiation is absorbed and then radiated back into space as thermal radiation (heat).  The trapped heat increases the temperature of the Earth’s surface and atmosphere.

3. Summary  Some scientists are now predicting that higher levels of certain greenhouse gases are causing temperatures to rise beyond natural limits.

4. Summary  Several man-made gases are also thought to contribute to the green house effect, namely chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF 6 ).

5. Summary AAtmospheric concentration of CO 2 has increased by at least 30 percent since the 1800 s. Industrial processes have also led to a 145 percent increase in CH 4, and 15 percent increase in N 2 O in the atmosphere.

6.  Consequences of such global warming could include higher sea levels, the spread of deserts in areas around the Earth’s equator, and the drying up of fresh water sources.

7. Summary TThe so-called Kyoto Protocol called for reducing emissions to at least 5 percent below 1990 levels of these gases by 2012.

8. TThe US officially signed the Protocol on November 12, 1998, but the US president then did not send it to the Senate to officially approve the treaty because he knew there was little hope for its approval at that time….

9. WWhen the next president took office in 2000, the new administration openly opposed the Protocol. The Bush administration claimed the standards set in the Protocol were unfair to developed countries.

10. AAt the Bonn meeting, the delegates agreed, despite opposition from US representatives, on setting guidelines and timetables for achieving the reductions set in the Kyoto Protocol.

11. WWithout Russia’s approval, there seems little chance the Kyoto Protocol will ever be completely ratified.

12. AAccording to the Kyoto Protocol, various nations agreed to cut their emissions of greenhouse gases below emission levels in 1990.

13. DDeveloping nations such as China and India are exempt from meeting the standards set by the Protocol. In order for the treaty to go into effect, 55 countries representing 55 percent of the emissions by industrialized countries must ratify it.

14. OOnce the treaty is in effect, companies that produce emissions below the cap level can “set” their unusual level to other companies.

15. TThis meant if Russia took part in the agreement, they would have plenty of credits to sell. With the absence of the US, there appears to be less of a market for the Russian emissions credits.

16. True and False  ____ The greenhouse effect began in the 2000s.  ____ Some scientists are now predicting that higher levels of certain greenhouse gases are causing temperatures to rise beyond natural limits. F T

17. True and False  ____ Industrial processes have also led to a 145 percent increase in CH 4, and 15 percent increase in N 2 O in the atmosphere.  ____ Consequences of such global warming could include lower sea levels, the spread of deserts in areas around the Earth’s equator, and the drying up of fresh water sources. F T

18. True and False  ____ The so-called Kyoto Protocol called for reducing emissions to at least 5 percent below 1990 levels o these gases by 2012.  ______ The US has already met the standards set by the Protocol and is a strong supporter of the Kyoto Protocol. T F