Kyoto Protocol and US Strategies: A Business Perspective

This essay analyzes the United States' response to the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It begins by outlining the protocol's objectives and the US's initial negative response, primarily due to the exclusion of developing countries. The essay then explores the principal approaches adopted by the US, including the Asian Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, which focuses on technological solutions for cleaner fossil fuels rather than meeting specific annual targets. The discussion further examines the alternative strategies implemented by the US, involving countries like China, Australia, and India. The essay concludes by debating the effectiveness of the US's approach and the impact of these strategies on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The provided references support the analysis of the US's stance and alternative solutions.

Running head: BUSINESS SOCIETY
BUSINESS SOCIETY
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Introduction
Kyoto Protocol is considered to be an international agreement which is an extension
of the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Changes. This agreement is
thereby committed towards the reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases which is related
to the scientific consensus that the issues related to global warming are taking place. This
protocol was adopted by Japan in the year 1997 and came into force in the year 20051.
Response provided by United States to the Kyoto protocol
The amount of greenhouse gases that have been emitted by different operations in the
US has been quite high in the last few years. However, the country did not provide any
positive response to the implementation of Kyoto Protocol. The main reason that was given
by the US to provide a negative response to the Kyoto Protocol was that the developing
countries were not a part of the agreement 2.
The principal approaches adopted by the United States with respect to the protocol
US has taken some major approaches with respect to the implementation of Kyoto
Protocol in different countries. The country has made a pact with various Asian countries
which has been named as the Asian Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate.
This is a major step which has mainly based on the implementation of an alternative strategy
as compared to Kyoto Protocol. This approach is related to the usage of technological
1 Begg, K., Van der Woerd, F. and Levy, D. eds. The business of climate change: Corporate responses to Kyoto.
Routledge. 2018
2 Pickering, J., McGee, J.S., Stephens, T. and Karlsson-Vinkhuyzen, S.I. The impact of the US retreat from the
Paris Agreement: Kyoto revisited?. Climate Policy, 18(7), 2018, pp.818-827.

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operations so that fossil fuels can be made cleaner. The approach is however not targeted
towards the fulfilment of targets each year 3. The alternative solution that has been provided
by Kyoto Protocol involves different countries like, US, China, Australia, Japan, South Korea
and India. This strategy of the US is thereby related to the comments that have been provided
by the US based on successful implementation of Kyoto Protocol. The major factor that has
been stated by the US is based on the difference that is related to the implementation of
Kyoto Protocol and implementation of this strategy 4.
Conclusion
The discussion can be concluded by stating that the negative response which is
provided by the US to Kyoto Protocol and implementation of an alternate strategy is quite
debatable. The effectiveness of this strategy based on the reduction of the effects of reduction
of greenhouse gases on the external environment has also been an important factor.
3 Ramiah, V., Gangemi, M. and Liu, M. Environmental policies post the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change:
evidence from the US and Japan. In Handbook of Environmental and Sustainable Finance, 2016, (pp. 25-54).
4 Rosen, A.M. The wrong solution at the right time: The failure of the kyoto protocol on climate
change. Politics & Policy, 43(1),2015, pp.30-58.

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References
Begg, K., Van der Woerd, F. and Levy, D. eds. The business of climate change: Corporate
responses to Kyoto. Routledge. 2018
Pickering, J., McGee, J.S., Stephens, T. and Karlsson-Vinkhuyzen, S.I. The impact of the US
retreat from the Paris Agreement: Kyoto revisited?. Climate Policy, 18(7), 2018, pp.818-827.
Ramiah, V., Gangemi, M. and Liu, M. Environmental policies post the Kyoto Protocol on
Climate Change: evidence from the US and Japan. In Handbook of Environmental and
Sustainable Finance, 2016, (pp. 25-54).
Rosen, A.M. The wrong solution at the right time: The failure of the kyoto protocol on
climate change. Politics & Policy, 43(1),2015, pp.30-58.