Claremont Colleges Debate Outreach –
The United States should ratify the Kyoto Accord
Key Terms Sources
Global warming The Convention and the Kyoto Protocol
Emissions
Greenhouse gases Time Magazine
Emissions Caps
Climate Change United Nations
Ratify
Kyoto Accord
Carbon Dioxide
Emissions Trading System
Fact Set
The Kyoto Accord was made in Kyoto, Japan in 1997.
The Kyoto Accord requires a cut in carbon dioxide emissions to the level they were in 1990 by 2010 and then further reductions in following years.
America is the world’s largest producer of greenhouse gases.
The United States should ratify the Kyoto Accord
Global Warming threatens the health and sustainability of the world’s population- nations should take steps to prevent and reverse global warming.
Ratification of the Kyoto Accord would bring the U.S. into agreement with other major international actors.
U.S. ratification would make other nations comply.
The United States should not ratify the Kyoto Accord
Complying with the Kyoto Accord would cost a lot of money and require substantial lifestyle changes.
The Kyoto caps are unfairly targeted at industrialized nations.
The Kyoto accord is not necessary, as individual nations can make changes in emissions without having to sign a vague and restrictive treaty.
Global warming is not that big of a problem, and if it is a very large topic, the Kyoto Accord is likely to do very little to solve that problem.
The United States should ratify the Kyoto Accord
Key Terms Sources
Global warming The Convention and the Kyoto Protocol
Emissions
Greenhouse gases Time Magazine
Emissions Caps
Climate Change United Nations
Ratify
Kyoto Accord
Carbon Dioxide
Emissions Trading System
Fact Set
The Kyoto Accord was made in Kyoto, Japan in 1997.
The Kyoto Accord requires a cut in carbon dioxide emissions to the level they were in 1990 by 2010 and then further reductions in following years.
America is the world’s largest producer of greenhouse gases.
Discussion Questions
What is global warming?
What is the problem with global warming?
How do emissions contribute to global warming?
What creates emissions/greenhouse gases?
How does the Kyoto Protocol deal with emissions?
Are there other ways to deal with global warming? Could people deal with global warming on a state or local basis?
Does the Kyoto Accord affect all nations equally? If not, is that a problem?
What does ratification of an international agreement mean?
What nations have ratified the Kyoto Accord? What nations have not?