'Beyond Kyoto' greenhouse pact being formed

[Eugene]

'Beyond Kyoto' greenhouse pact being formed
Wed Jul 27, 2005 12:57 AM ET

By Michelle Nichols

CANBERRA (Reuters) - The United States, Australia, China, India and
South Korea are likely to unveil this week a regional pact to combat
greenhouse gas emissions by developing environmentally friendly
energy technology, Australia said on Wednesday.

Environment Minister Ian Campbell said the countries had been working
on a regional pact to tackle climate change beyond the Kyoto
protocol, which requires rich nations to cut greenhouse gas
emissions by 5.2 percent below 1990 levels by 2008-12.

The United States and Australia have refused to sign Kyoto, which
came into force in February, because they say the pact unfairly
excludes developing nations such as India and China. South Korea has
ratified Kyoto.

"It's quite clear the Kyoto protocol won't get the world to where it
wants to go ... We have got to find something that works better --
Australia is working on that with partners around the world,"
Campbell told reporters on Wednesday.

More: http://today.reuters.com/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-07-27T045750Z_01_SP277659_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-ENVIRONMENT-CLIMATE-DC.XML

[halfcourttrap]

1. i'm sure it will be a sparkling gem of a plan

I won't be unfairly critical of this supposed 'plan' yet, but for the basic typical rhetoric that is preceding its announcement, it will be most likely be a worthless plan with a 1st-graders level grandiose title(ie Clear Skies Initiative)....
I'm sorry, but this administration really will never do anything "new" or "innovative"....
The issues of the environment, and international cooperation are massively important to the lives of our future generations...and this administration has done nothing but simply give a subliminal nod to the 'end-time" religious right factions that exist throughout this country (albeit they are not a majority by themselves by any means)... These religious zealots live in a mindset that has proved untrue hundreds of years..that is that God is just gonna burn this whole world down right after he comes to sweep up "his special people"...And the 'Left Behind' get to choke on the poisons of the earth...
Sorry but I cannot understand the slightest bit of wisdom in believing that way, I think the obvious point of existence is to try to pave a more prosperous existence for everyone to follow...
Anyways, I believe in a plan that "breaks away" from the negative spiral of environmental hope and overly 'fueled' international tensions...
I believe in the E-192 Initiative (link at bottom) as a way to blaze a trail down the road to environmentally friendly technology development, that is fueled by the spirit of competition, and allows for very positive cultural exchanges, and funds Environmental Studies scholarships for students throughout the world, (including the fact that 6 of the poorest 96 nations in the world will end up with a massive scholarship fund for its young citizens)! Beyond it all the Initiative is fueled by a spirit of capitalism, yet it does not create any 'losers' that would stand to lose anything by participating....
BTW this whole E-192 Initiative is a very new idea/movement, and it can be a very good platform issue for Progressives to stand for with an aggressive stance...The plan is also in the phase of being a blueprint (but clearly defined in its intent and actions)...If the Grassroots rumble can begin to swell into early-mid 2006 , maybe this can be a very big Congressional Elections Issue, and maybe incumbents might even act to take it on quickly to show that they are responsive (don't count on it from this bunch at all though, still waiting on those great Bio-Diesel Incentives)...anyway...just an idea, maybe a productive one?!?!

[phantom power]

2. Well, I agree with him on one point.

Kyoto doesn't get us where we need to go. However, I mean that in the sense that Kyoto isn't nearly agressive enough, whereas I'm sure that Campbell means it in the BushCo sense that it needs to be watered down even further to please his plutocrat masters.