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There are a lot of reasons why people find fault in the Kyoto protocol. To examine their objections we must learn a bit about what the protocols are and how they are interpreted by the critics.

Basically the Kyoto protocol is an emissions exchange system where credits are earned based on how far below the acceptable level of emissions the company is. Many countries are signed onto this, thought he United States remains notably absent.

The first objection is that global warming does not exist at all. That this is a natural phenomenon, which is a fact asserted by most climatologists.
Then it becomes obvious the Kyoto protocol is really just a scheme to hold down developing industrialized nations.

Another criticism is that rewarding these upcoming countries for not emitting is the equivalent of rewarding them for not working. Some go even further and assert that this is global socialism in action.

Another criticism is the fact that things are predicated on a 1990 model, and that countries who were doing the worst that have gotten better will have been rewarded not for doing better by the treaty but by default.

I think the Kyoto protocol is not completely worthless and it is important to note that these objections while vocal are hardly universal. But I think you have to look at both sides of an argument to find the truth and that rule of thumb applies doubly to any piece of legislation involving climate change.

Learn more about this author, Royce Radcliffe.
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