Chem 120 / Dr. Rusay

Global Climate Change

Exercise:  Global Climate Change, the Kyoto Treaty (Protocol) & Commerce

Image above: The earth from a GOES / NASA / NOAA satelite photo. GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites). http://rsd.gsfc.nasa.gov/goes/

         Global Climate Change

I received the following letter on repeated occasions over the past 10 years, most recently a few weeeks ago. I solicit your INFORMED opinion and advice on whether or not to acknowledge the request and sign the petition. I have included links to several Web resources that summarize the information mentioned in the letter plus other information published over this period.

Your group is to provide a written recommendation whether to sign or not to sign the petition. The recommendation must be supported by detailed scientific reasons for the recommendation and include how the key socio-economic issues relate to responses to global warming. The questions that follow should guide you. In your recommendation, your group must also include a description of what is meant by the Carbon Budget and a "Carbon Footprint".

a) List three scientific arguments supporting global warming theory.
b) List three scientific arguments refuting global warming theory.
c) What are the potential consequences of global warming?
d) What are the potential consequences of endorsing and enforcing the Kyoto Treaty?
e) List three personal factors in your day to day pattern of life that you could change, which would reduce your "Carbon Footprint".

Each member of the group should be prepared to orally present, discuss, and explain the group's recommendations to Dr. R. and the class. Select one member of the group who will be a panel representative and spokesperson. This person will summarize the group's position in an oral presentation to the class that will be limited to ten minutes.

The Treaty was ratified by more than 80 nations including China and the 15 European Union (EU) nations who criticized the United States for it's refusal to sign the Protocol. Zimbabwe was the most current signator.
 

     
    Dear Dr. Rusay,

    Enclosed is a review of information on the subject of "global warming," a petition in the form of a reply card, and a return envelope. Please consider these materials carefully.

    The United States is very close to adopting an international agreement that would ration the use of energy and of technologies that depend upon coal, oil, and natural gas and some other organic compounds.

    This treaty is, in our opinion, based upon flawed ideas. Research data on climate change do not show that human use of hydrocarbons is harmful. To the contrary, there is good evidence that increased atmospheric carbon dioxide is environmentally helpful.

    The proposed agreement would have very negative affects upon the technology of nations throughout the world, especially those that are currently attempting to lift from poverty and provide opportunities~to the over 4 billion people in tech nologically underdeveloped countries.

    It is especially important for America to hear from its citizens who have the training necessary to evaluate the relevant data and offer sound advice.

    We urge you to sign and return the enclosed petition card. If you would like more cards for use by your colleagues, these will be sent.

    Frederick Seitz

    Past President, National Academy of Sciences, U.S.A. 
    President Emeritus, Rockefeller University 
     
     

    Petition
      We urge the United States government to reject the global warming agreement that was written in Kyoto, Japan in December, 1997, and any other similar proposals. The proposed limits on greenhouse gases would harm the environment, hinder the advance of science and technology, and damage the health and welfare of mankind.

      There is no convincing scientific evidence that human release of carbon dioxide, methane, or other greenhouse gases is causing or will, in the foreseeable future, cause catastrophic heating of the Earth's atmosphere and disruption of the Earth's climate. Moreover, there is substantial scientific evidence that increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide produce many beneficial effects upon the natural plant and animal environments of the Earth.

      O Please send more petition cards for me to distribute.

      Please sign here:

     My academic degree is B.S. O M.S. O Ph.D. O in the field of _______________


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