Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
called for controls on industrial and agricultural emissions producing
greenhouse gases. They were:
1. Regulations to ensure energy efficiency.
2. Controls on deforestation.
3. Curbs on population growth.
4. Increased funding for energy alternatives, including safer nuclear
power.
In the early 1990s, the Information Council on the Environment,
which was a group of coal and utility companies, used a public relations
firm to push global warming as theory. The U.S. auto industry has also
played a role. Much lobbying took place to depose global climate change
and fight legislation on fuel economy which is an important agent in
carbon emissions.
REDUCING HYDROCARBON EMISSIONS
A global accord on reducing hydrocarbon emissions was reached at
the 1992 Early Summit in Brazil. Great Britain and Germany came close
to meeting their 2000 targets while the U.S. fell short of its goal by 15 to
20%.
In 1997 an international agreement on global warming was signed by
150 countries in Kyoto, Japan. It required a major reduction in automobile
exhaust emissions while greenhouse gases were to be reduced to 7% below
1990 levels by 2012. The Kyoto Protocol was adopted at the urging of
international environmental groups that demanded reductions in carbon
dioxide and other gases. The treaty would require disproportionate
cutbacks by U.S. companies and the U.S. Senate voted 95 to 0 to reject
it. With Russia's accession in 2004, an international treaty that may have
threatened U.S. industry with stiff regulations moved closer to global
ratification.
Meeting the Kyoto goals could have a major impact on the electric
power and auto industries and many believed the economy would suffer
greatly. Developing countries like China and India would be exempt from
the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. China and India have plans to
build over 600 coal-fired plants. The emissions of these plants would be 5
times the total saving of Kyoto.
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