Greenhouse gases. The Kyoto Protocol. Global warming. Eight years ago, these words were somewhat foreign to the average Canadian. Now it’s difficult to open a newspaper or magazine without reading about the dramatic effects that rising global temperatures may have on the environment. Especially since the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement established in 1997 to ostensibly curb the greenhouse gas emissions of industrialized countries and reduce global warming, came into effect on February 16, 2005. Though Canada and 140 other nations are signatories of Kyoto, there is a heated debate raging behind the scenes about the scientific evidence that is said to support the Protocol. Kyoto advocates claim that carbon dioxide emissions created by human activity — driving cars, incinerating solid and industrial waste, burning fossil fuels to generate electricity, heat our homes and run our factories — is prompting temperatures to rise at a rapid and potentially devastating rate. On the other hand, Kyoto opponents argue that global temperatures naturally rise and fall, and humans have virtually no impact on the global climate. Despite their differences in opinion, both groups of scientists tend to agree: A general warming effect is happening. The question is, why can’t these two camps agree on the cause? Greenhouse gas (GHG) is the oft-cited culprit behind fluctuations in the Earth’s climate. The most significant GHG is naturally occurring water vapour. While such compounds as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are found in nature, human activities also create emissions of these gases. All GHGs trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, causing the planet to be warmer than it otherwise would be. Canada will spend $10 billion in the next eight years in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Canada’s target is to reduce its average annual GHG emissions to six percent below 1990 levels in the 2008-2012 time frame. Canada’s major chemical and electricity industries are large emitters of GHGs, responsible for 50 percent of the country’s global emissions. Canada’s Kyoto targets specify that these large emitters are responsible for reducing only 36 percent of the country’s emissions. The remaining 64 percent of reductions are the responsibility of individual Canadians... Thanks Magik