| Environmentalists are those people who are | | | | withdrawn from the Treaty. Since it has not been |
| dedicated to the preservation, restoration, or | | | | ratified by the US to this point, the US is not |
| improvement of the natural environment, and this | | | | required to follow the provisions of the Kyoto |
| includes the preservation of our natural resources | | | | Treaty. |
| and the prevention of pollution. In regards to the | | | | On July 25, 1997, the U.S. Senate passed the |
| global warming topic, environmentalists believe | | | | Byrd-Hagel Resolution, which called for developing |
| that forests should not be cut down or burned, | | | | nations to also be required to follow the Kyoto |
| which would help to prevent more CO2 from | | | | Treaty before forcing industrialized nations to sign |
| going into the air. Environmentalists also support | | | | off on it, 95-0. They feared serious harm would |
| renewable energy sources, as less coal and fossil | | | | come to the US economy if they signed off on it |
| fuel usage would lead to less CO2 being put into | | | | beforehand, as developing nations not bound by |
| the air. | | | | the Kyoto Treaty would have an unfair |
| Media coverage in the United States tends to give | | | | advantage over industrialized nations like the US in |
| equal coverage to both sides of the debate | | | | coal and fossil fuel production. As a result, the |
| involving global warming. That may sound | | | | Treaty was never submitted to the Senate for |
| reasonable, but it actually might lead to inaccurate | | | | ratification. |
| coverage. The reason why is because the | | | | Current President George W. Bush has no |
| "balance" of covering both sides of the issue has | | | | intentions of submitting the treaty to the Senate |
| allowed a small group of global warming sceptics, | | | | for ratification, not because he doesn't support |
| many of which are funded by carbon-based | | | | the Kyoto principles, but because of the |
| industry interests, to be frequently consulted and | | | | exemption granted to China (the world's |
| quoted in new reports on climate change. | | | | second-largest emitter of carbon dioxide after the |
| This has allowed their views to be greatly | | | | US, and is projected to be the largest emitter by |
| amplified to the point where it looks like there is a | | | | 2010.) Bush also believes the Treaty would put |
| 50/50 divide on whether human-made global | | | | much strain on the US economy; he has concerns |
| warming is a legitimate concern or not, when in | | | | over the uncertainties which are present in the |
| reality, there is more overwhelming evidence that | | | | climate change issue. |
| suggests that human-made global warming is a | | | | Bush and the US Government have enacted |
| real legitimate concern. Controversy is being | | | | some of their own legislation in order to mitigate |
| stirred when science actually finds consensus. | | | | the climate change and the US is on track to fulfil |
| However, there is disagreement about whether | | | | its pledge to reduce its carbon intensity 18% by |
| the scientific community has reached a consensus | | | | 2012. However, Paul Krugman has stated that the |
| that human-made global warming is a legitimate | | | | target 18% reduction in carbon intensity is still |
| concern and that if it is left unchecked, it will | | | | actually an increase in overall emissions. In addition, |
| cause considerable damage to our planet in terms | | | | the White House has also come under criticism |
| of extreme climate changes, more powerful | | | | for downplaying reports linking human activity and |
| tropical storms and hurricanes, and rising sea | | | | greenhouse gas emissions to climate change. |
| levels that will lead to the destruction of coastal | | | | Al Gore has brought renewed focus on the topic |
| communities, among other destructive events. | | | | of global warming with his Oscar-winning |
| Opponents maintain that no consensus has been | | | | documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth." This |
| reached, claiming that most scientists believe that | | | | documentary shows Mr. Gore's passionate and |
| human-made global warming is "unproven," they | | | | inspirational look at his fervent crusade to stop |
| dismiss the theory altogether, or they dispute the | | | | global warming's deadly progress by exposing the |
| dangers of consensus science. | | | | myths and misconceptions that surround it. The |
| Global warming is also a decisive political issue, | | | | documentary also reveals that if most of the |
| especially in the United States. Most Republicans | | | | world's scientists are right about global warming, |
| tend to adopt the view of not believing that | | | | we may have just ten years to avert a major |
| human-made global warming is a "proven" issue, | | | | catastrophe that could cause our world to |
| so they oppose all proposed measures of | | | | experience extreme weather, floods, droughts, |
| counteracting it because they don't believe it's | | | | epidemics, and killer heat waves at levels we've |
| necessary. Democrats, on the other hand, believe | | | | never seen before. |
| that human-made global warming is a legitimate | | | | As you can see, there are many facets and |
| cause of concern and endorse measures to | | | | elements that go into the topic of global warming. |
| reduce and/or eliminate the threat. | | | | From the controversial science behind it to the |
| Two perfect examples of the political division | | | | way the media covers it to the politics that are |
| involving the global warming issue are President | | | | behind each side of the debate to the Kyoto |
| George W. Bush's inaction regarding the Kyoto | | | | Treaty that tries to address the issue of global |
| Treaty provisions and 2000 Democratic | | | | warming to the Oscar-winning documentary, "An |
| Presidential candidate Al Gore's new documentary, | | | | Inconvenient Truth," that tries to alert people that |
| "An Inconvenient Truth," that refocuses attention | | | | global warming is a real issue that needs to be |
| on the global warming issue and why we must | | | | addressed now by all, both governmental and |
| address it soon or face dire consequences. | | | | individual, global warming is a very important topic |
| The Kyoto Treaty is an amendment to the | | | | in our world. The debate will likely continue, but |
| international treaty on climate change, calling for | | | | the evidence seems to indicate that human-made |
| mandatory emission limitations for the reduction | | | | global warming is having more pronounced effects |
| of greenhouse gas emissions to the nations that | | | | on our world, and without concise and decisive |
| sign off on it. It was opened for signature on | | | | action in the near future, it's quite possible that |
| December 11, 1997, but wasn't enforced until | | | | the damage caused by global warming will only |
| February 16, 2005. | | | | continue to become more devastating to our |
| Even though the United States is a signee of the | | | | world. |
| Kyoto Treaty, the US has neither ratified nor | | | | |