Russian Cabinet Backs Kyoto Pact

Russian Cabinet Backs Kyoto Pact (washingtonpost.com)

Now here's one that never gets old. The Kyoto Treaty is back... again. Russia seems to still be toying with the EU over this treaty and entry into the WTO. The Kremlin has signalled several times in the past that is ready to back Kyoto... does anything make this time more believable? I'm entering a new journalistic technique into my collection today, and I'm calling it "issue-amnesia". It's basically conveniently forgetting the history of an issue to trump up a story's emotional punch. There is a similar story in The Age today which trumpets the gloom and doom Australia (another country opting out of the Kyoto Treaty) now that Russia has signed on (which is t really hasn't yet.) Tech Central Station had a good article with some strikingly different things to say about the news from Russia as well. It also had some interesting facts abou tthe Kyoto Treat y that I hadn't seen before. For example, that Brazil and China are exempt from the emissions reduction? This seems to put those countries at an unfair advantage in competitive markets. It dawned on me today what leaves a bad taste in my mouth about Kyoto... it smacks of re-distribution. Like taking success from one person and giving to someone who is less successful. Kyoto suddenly seems like it is about redistributing jobs, wealth, and technology than about the environment. Russia selling its credits to the EU? China being exempt from restrictions? What does it amount to? Well, it means that the market will be unnaturally swayed to favor China, Brazil and other countries who do not have to reduce or maintain emission levels. Since China is already using up like 75% of the world's resources right now, I can't see how they need any more help. People worry about outsourcing now... well when it becomes even cheaper to set up shop in places like Indonesia, China and Brazil, we'll see even more economic hardship in the U.S. But this seems to be part of the plan. The Kyoto treaty punishes established, industrialized nations and gives their production power to less advanced countries.

So, where's the environment in all of this? It really isn't there at all is it? Emissions go down in high emissions countries... unless they buy credits from low emissions countries. In which case, the emissions stay the same. Only the money moves around... :(