Editorial
In September of 1987, representatives of 24 countries met in Montreal with the aim to limit the production of CFCs and of halons, two of the principle classes of substances responsible for the destruction of the ozone layer that protects the earth from high energy radiation emitted by the sun. The result of which became known as the Montreal Protocol. Under the agreement, the developing countries did not have to interrupt production until 2010 for economic reasons and because their contribution is small.
In December of 1997, 10 years after the Montreal Protocol, representatives from 159 countries met in Kyoto to establish an agreement for the reduction of greenhouse gases that result in global warming, among those present was the Brazilian Minister for Science and Technology. The Kyoto treaty defined a 7% cut for the USA, 8% for the European Union, 6% for Canada and for Japan, 8% for Australia, and 1% for Norway of their emissions based upon emission levels for these countries in 1990. The cuts apply to six gases, these are: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride. Although the United States senate has not ratified the decisions made in Kyoto, some of these decisions supported by the North-American representative were very favorable to developing countries, for example:
The maintenance of the Berlin mandate that freed developing countries from the terms of the protocol for the reduction of greenhouse gases.
The approval, by the Conference, of the brazilian proposal that ascribes to each country, the respective responsibility for global warming, based upon their accumulated emissions.
Apart from the diplomatic advances, the Montreal and Kyoto protocols make very clear the present day threat to the existence of future generations on our planet, and that our planets preservation depends ever increasingly on governments and scientists.
The firm position, in defense of developing nations, taken by the Brazilian government in Kyoto and at other international meetings has, in order to be coherent, to be accompanied by government policy which privileges Brazilian science and technology that aims to develop Brazil without sacrificing the enviroment.
Angelo C. Pinto
Publication Dates
-
Publication in this collection
17 Mar 2008 -
Date of issue
Feb 1998
