Legislation

Climate Initiatives

Seeking Clarification on Climate Change Legislation

Governments around the world have pledged to reduce fossil fuel usage and boost the use of renewable fuels to help fight climate change. In addition, mandatory CO₂ caps—such as those described in the Kyoto Protocol—are being demanded worldwide. However, Kyoto signatories produce just one third of global GHG emissions, and thus far, the US (which is the world's second largest emitter, as it was recently overtaken by China) has said it will not agree to binding CO₂ cuts unless other major polluters, such as China and India, also adhere to mandatory caps. However, that could soon change, as US legislators are facing pressure from every direction to aggressively tackle the issue of climate change. In Canada, the dropping of the Kyoto Protocol in 2007 led to a public outcry and fast-tracked plans to propose acceptable global warming legislation. Also, a revised EU mandate calling for binding CO₂ cuts is forcing governments in that region to face global warming head-on. Log-in for complete content