New Australian Prime Minister Ratifies Kyoto Protocol
When new Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd signed documents to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, the United States became the last developed nation in the world not to have ratified the 2002 treaty which sets binding limits on carbon emissions blamed for global warming. Rudd estimates that Australia immediately will exceed its Kyoto emission reduction requirements by one percent. His country has set an ambitious long-term target of cutting carbon emissions by 60 percent of 2000 levels by 2050.
Although the Bush administration does not appear ready to ratify Kyoto anytime soon, the overall attitude in Washington appears to be thawing with respect to global warming (pun intended). There is growing political acceptance of global warming as a real problem, and now the U.S. is completely isolated among developed countries who acknowledge the need for rigorous efforts to combat climate change. Perhaps this will spur a more cooperative U.S. attitude when Kyoto expires in 2012 and negotiations begin for a new protocol.
Posted by David J. Petersen, partner practicing in the Sustainability and Real Estate & Land Use Practice Groups.
