th Summit), is a plan for industrialized nations to reduce their overall greenhouse gas emissions at least 5% than their 1990 levels by the year 2008. The United States claims that they aren’t willing to fully commit to this treaty until we know that all the well-developed countries that agreed to the mandatory targets are really going to commit. The United States needs to ratify this protocol and we have not done so yet. It benefits the environment in a cost-effective plan, using market-based mechanisms around the world. This protocol was revisited just this year in Brussels.The Hauge Conference began on November 11th, 2000. It quickly ended when it became clear that the participating countries all had different agendas. This meeting consisted of the European Union, Japan, Canada, Australia, and the United States getting together to revisit the details of the Kyoto Protocol. Again, a plan that everyone agreed on was NOT created. Instead, accusations that the United States wasn’t really willing to cut back on emissions and work with other nations were made. The United States was accused of trying to create too many “loopholes” and not willing to make any sacrifices. Instead of ending the meeting, it was merely suspended for a year. Hopefully, by then, the United States and other nations involved will come to a consensus and a treaty will be developed, ratified, and put into force. In order for this to happen, the United States must be willing to work with the other countries and go by the same standards as the other countries.Another environmental issue that needs to be addressed globally is the condition of the oceans. In 1998, the United Nations declared it the year of the ocean. During the year, countries were focusing of trying to help the ocean by banning the dumping of radioactive material into the ocean. Laws were created to protect coral reefs, reduce pollution draining into the oceans, and...
