The Kyoto Protocol

A majority of scientists agree that global warming, caused by higher levels of gases that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, could lead to catastrophic consequences. Among them: flooding of low-lying areas; droughts and more severe weather that could cause food shortages; and the displacement of millions of people. When governments adopted the Convention, they knew that its commitments would not be sufficient to achieve its ultimate objective. They therefore included a series of review mechanisms in the Convention to ensure that its commitments could be tightened in the future. The f…