Global Climate Change Treaty: Negotiations and Related Issues (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Nov. 21, 1997 |
| Report Number |
97-1000ENR |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
This report discusses the negotiations leading the Kyoto conference of the parties. The United States and other parties to the 1992 Climate Change Convention
signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro will meet December 1-12 in Kyoto,
Japan, to conclude year-long negotiations on a legally binding protocol or amendment
to reduce or stabilize emissions of greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S. proposal to
reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases to 1990 levels
between 2008-2012 is less ambitious than environmentalists and many other treaty
Parties urge, but represents a commitment that others, including many in business,
fear could damage the economy. A key aspect of the negotiations also is what should
be expected of developing nations, whose current emissions of greenhouse gases are
relatively small, but are expected to increase rapidly over the next decade with
economic development. A sense of the Senate resolution calls for all countries to
meet scheduled reductions, and would agree to U.S. participation only if harm to the
domestic economy is avoided. If agreement is reached in Kyoto, Senate approval
would be required for U.S. ratification, and legislation to implement commitments
would also likely be necessary.
