London: Play at SoHo Place shows how the US deliberately fucked global climate collaboration since the 1990s.
American climate negotiators swear a lot.
Former US climate envoy John Kerry is here and I overheard him say it’s “very, very clever”.
I asked him if he was enjoying the play…he said he doesn’t “enjoy the reality.”
A reference to LA fires, perhaps? Or maybe the visceral presentation in the play of how America’s must-win, lawyer-focused attitude prevents the country from sincere collaboration with other nations…is not so enjoyable for him.?!
From the program:
Kerry
One person familiar with the situation said there were rumors the play was going to New York.
Its stint in London runs through May.
Help from Chat GPT … any errors?
The Kyoto Protocol, established in 1997, set binding greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets for developed countries, known as Annex I parties. The commitment period spanned from 2008 to 2012, with the collective goal of reducing emissions by approximately 5% below 1990 levels.
According to data compiled by the UNFCCC, many Annex I countries met or exceeded their targets. For instance, the European Union collectively achieved significant reductions, with countries like Germany and the United Kingdom reducing their emissions by 24.3% and 23.0% respectively. However, some nations, such as Canada, saw their emissions rise by 18.5% during the commitment period. Notably, Canada withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol in 2011.
It’s important to recognize that while aggregate emissions decreased, a significant portion of this reduction was due to economic restructuring in Eastern European countries during the 1990s, leading to decreased industrial activity and emissions. This factor contributed to the overall success in meeting the Protocol’s targets.
For detailed information on individual country performances and compliance assessments, you can refer to the UNFCCC’s Compliance Committee reports. The latest annual report provides insights into the compliance status of participating countries.
In summary, while many countries met their Kyoto Protocol targets, the overall success was influenced by unique economic circumstances in certain regions, and some nations did not achieve their specified goals.
Chat GPT
The United States signed the Kyoto Protocol in 1998 but did not ratify it, and therefore was not bound by its emission reduction targets. Despite this, U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during the Kyoto Protocol’s first commitment period (2008-2012) showed notable trends.
U.S. Emissions During 2008-2012:
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), total U.S. GHG emissions were:
• 2008: 6,983 million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (MMTCO₂e)
• 2009: 6,576 MMTCO₂e
• 2010: 6,821 MMTCO₂e
• 2011: 6,702 MMTCO₂e
• 2012: 6,526 MMTCO₂e
These figures indicate a general downward trend in emissions during this period. The significant drop in 2009 can be attributed to the economic recession, which led to reduced industrial activity and energy consumption. Post-2009, emissions saw a slight uptick in 2010, followed by a gradual decline in the subsequent years. This reduction is partly due to a shift from coal to natural gas in electricity generation and improvements in energy efficiency.
Kyoto Protocol Extension (Doha Amendment):
In 2012, the Doha Amendment extended the Kyoto Protocol, establishing a second commitment period from 2013 to 2020. This amendment set new emission reduction targets for participating countries. However, the United States did not participate in this extension, as it had not ratified the original protocol.
Conclusion:
While the U.S. was not legally obligated under the Kyoto Protocol, its GHG emissions during the 2008-2012 period exhibited a decreasing trend. This decline was influenced by economic factors and a transition towards cleaner energy sources. The U.S. continued to implement domestic policies aimed at reducing emissions, independent of international agreements.