Russell Chapman wrote:
>
> Jeroen wrote:
>
> > Don't worry, we'll make the US pay. We'll just have to put extra import
> > tariffs on goods from the US, and charge extra for anything the US wants to
> > buy from Europe's industries.
>
> But that's the whole point of the US pullout - enough countries won't ratify or
> enforce this in the world that anyone who does enforce it is going to need to do
> exactly what you describe. So when United Airlines goes to replace jets, Airbus
> Industrie is uncompetitive because it and all its suppliers have to charge extra
> to cover the cost of compliance, but Boeing doesn't. Then when KLM goes to
> upgrade, Boeing is cheaper, so they put an import tariff on US goods to bring
> Airbus back into play - what's happenned? KLM pays extra either way, and Airbus
> isn't selling as many planes outside Europe.
> This will happen in every industry where some players are complying with Kyoto
> and some aren't, bringing serious disadvantage to any country who enforces it.
> That means less money in the budget for education, welfare, environment, and
> health.
> If everyone was confident that all the signatories would ratify and enforce the
> provisions, there'd be a lot more negotiating going on.
> Let's just hope there's a new proposal soon including things like carbon sinks
> and credits trading so that everyone can participate.
>
But isn't that what just happened in Bonn? They bent over backwards to
accommodate Japan, and a liberal interpretation of the effects of CO2 sinks
was part of the new agreement. They also reduced the target reductions by
more than half. The U.S. could probably comply with the treaty by cutting
auto emissions alone (just a guess on my part), which wouldn't be very hard to
do with so many SUVs on the road. But of course the HoRs* voted to violate
the ANWR for a lousy 2 year supply of oil (optimistic estimate), none of which
will be available for at least 6 years in lue of improving gas mileage (which
hasn't improved in 15 years). What a bunch of maroons.
Oh and by the way, the reason the U.S. rep at the conference in Bonn got booed
off the stage was that the Bush admin. had promised an alternative proposal
and she showed up without one. World leadership at its best, eh.
Doug
*We've got HoRs (House of Representatives) and Sen'rs (Senators). 8^)
