Changes In Climate Change Since Kyoto

Due to the upcoming climate change talks in Copenhagen this December, many participants of the Kyoto Protocol are discussing the changes since 1997 when Kyoto took place. Many United Nations scientists are amongst those incredulous to the changes in just the last twelve years.

In 1997, the worst predictions for this point in time were often not as negative as the impacts of global warming have turned out to be. Global warming has in fact increased, even with the Kyoto agreement in place. Many point to the fact that the United States, China and India were not participants of the final Kyoto Protocol emission reductions as a main factor in the increasing effects of climate change.

In addition to the United States, China and India not participating in emission reductions, developing countries in general were not included in the Kyoto Protocol. In Copenhagen, governments are expected to rectify this situation.

Of the many things taking place in the world of climate change since 1997, one of the most drastic has been the loss of ice around the world. Glaciers are decreasing at a pace never before seen and Greenland and Antarctica are losing a great deal of ice. In addition, the Arctic is seeing decreased ice accumulation and weaker ice than ever before.

Since the year 2000, Greenland has lost 1.5 trillion tons of ice. Antarctica has lost 1 trillion tons of ice since 2002. Greenland is melting now at a rate double that in 2002- a drastic change in just 7 years. During the Kyoto talks, scientists did not expect Antarctica to even lose ice by this point in history.

In addition to the ice changes, the world’s oceans have also begun suffering from acidification. Oceans have also risen approximately 1.5 inches in the last twelve years. The worldwide temperatures have increased 0.4 degrees compared to the twelve years prior to Kyoto.

Since December 1997, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased 6.5 percent. In the same time frame, carbon dioxide from fossil fuels has increased 31 percent. A main factor in increasing emissions is China, which has more than doubled their emissions since Kyoto.

Only time will tell how the twelve years after Copenhagen will look compared to the statistics of 2009.