| The Kyoto Protocol |
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Final task: after reading the text and doing all the activities on the left links, in pairs write a letter to the president of your country expressing your concern about the problem of the climate change. Kyoto Protocol comes into force The Kyoto accord, which aims to restrain the air pollution blamed for global warming, has come into force seven years after it was agreed. - The accord requires countries to cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. - 141 countries, accounting for 55% of greenhouse gas emissions, have ratified the treaty, which pledges to cut these emissions by 5.2% by 2012. - But the world's top polluter - the US - has not signed up to the treaty (Australia hasn’t ratified it either). - The US says the changes would be too costly to introduce and that the agreement is flawed. - Large developing countries including India, China and Brazil are not required to meet specific targets for now (as they are still classified as 'developing nations'). - Russia ratified the treaty in November 2004. - Russia's entry was vital, because the protocol had to be ratified by nations accounting for at least 55% of greenhouse gas emissions to become valid. - This target was only met after Russia joined. - But Kyoto is only a first step and much hard work needed to be done to fight global warming. |