Kyoto 2.0

Written By Camille Ong

If someone takes up the topic ‘global warming’ in a conversation, most would react with annoyance. They would think this topic again? Well, yes. I feel like this topic is not to be thrown aside just because it is so often talked about. In fact that is precisely why I will be talking about global warming. The reason the issue never dies down is because global warming hasn’t been solved yet. However, there are people who do care about the Earth enough to try to find the solution. Many all over this world try to save the planet they share. You and I share it with them but are we doing something to save it?


As I have stated, many around the globe are finding a solution. The first ever international effort to regard the problem was the creation of the International Panel on Climate Change or the IPCC. Its task was to find out more on the scientific, technical, and socioeconomic fields in order to understand global warming and climate change. In the year 1997, 160 countries held a meeting at Kyoto, Japan. Their sole goal was to limit the emission of greenhouse gasses. Thus, created the Kyoto Protocol. Skip a few years to 2005 where the participating countries of the Protocol agreed to cut their combined emissions by 2008-2012. However the top two carbon producers at that time, which was the U.S and Russia, refused to participate.

That was our lesson in science class, however that was the end of the story. So what happened after that? As I was searching for a topic to write about current world issues, this headline caught my attention; “China to Place Limit to Coal Use by 2020”. Written in the article that followed was how this was China’s continuation to the Kyoto Protocol. This is our sequel. What’s better is that China will be cooperating with the American government in her goal. I feel like this needs to be emphasized more. The world’s top carbon producers are coming together to lessen their emissions. The last time the Protocol was heard from, several nations had complained that if the top producers were not acting, why should they. And if I can add, a representative once said, “Why should America act if China is not committed?” How the tables have turned.

What we have here is the continuation of the story. But what we need to strive for is the happy ending. Will China and the U.S succeed in their quest? Although this is very much good news to us all, why start by 2020? If only I were part of the council, I would definitely start earlier. Why wait for the Earth to rot a little bit more? Act now. They shouldn’t wait any longer because the Earth has waited long enough for us to start. And they have started, I feel like they just never continued.

I know the subject in focus is China but that does not mean we aren’t part of the picture. We shouldn’t sit back and watch the Chinese save the world. They are just taking the first step and maybe just paving the way for us. It now depends on us, are we willing to step forward with them?