Since the recent Copenhagen climate conference and subsequent Copenhagen Accord, there has been some talk about what effect, if anything, its predecessor, the Kyoto Protocol, has had on the countries that ratified it in 1997. (It took affect in 2005).

One of the biggest announcements has come from Germany, who said on February 1, 2010, that they have reduced their greenhouse gas (ghg) emissions by 22% from 1990 levels, an impressive total. According to press releases in early 2009, Finland had lowered their emissions by 15% at the time. In 2009 the Netherlands had also managed to lower their emissions by about 3%. France and the UK have also lowered their emissions significantly, by 5% and 17%, respectively.

On the other side of the coin are countries like Canada (increased emissions by 26%), Spain (+54%), Australia (+30%), and Portugal (+38%). China, India, Iran, South Korea, and Brazil stand out as the most severe increases, ranging from 82% in South Korea to 167% in China. The Kyoto Protocol is widely considered a weak or conservative agreement, and when countries cannot even meet such agreements, one must ask how the governments of the time can be so foolish and ignorant as to think that ignoring problems such as climate change will make them go away. And yes, I include Canada in that group.

It is important to note that, depending upon the system one uses to calculate greenhouse gas emissions, the numbers can vary dramatically, based upon things including land use, expansion, and forest management. For these purposes, I have used the most conservative estimates, but by some measurements Canada has increased its ghg emissions by up to 47%, and Australia by up to 82%.

The US did not ratify the Kyoto Protocol, although it did sign it. Unfortunately, without ratification, the signature remains purely symbolic. For the record, the US has raised ghg emissions by 17%.

Carsten MacLean is President of the BRHS Climate Change Committee, and would like to point out that various experts have stated that Canada is expected to top the medal count in Vancouver.