Russia
Ratifies Kyoto Protocol: what’s in it for Swaziland?
1 November 2004
Regular readers of this column
will know the value which Yonge Nawe Environmental Action Group places
upon international environmental agreements and conventions. It is
with this in mind that we were delighted to report on Russia’s formal ratification
of the Kyoto Protocol.
Although this decision seems
far removed from impacts of climate change in Swaziland, such as drought
and flooding, the reality is that Russia’s commitment towards reducing
greenhouse gas emissions will have long-term environmental, economic and
social benefits which will be felt throughout the world.
What is Climate Change?
Climate change refers to changes
in our weather and environment caused by increasing levels of carbon dioxide
and other greenhouse gases that we are releasing into the atmosphere.
The burning of fossil fuels for cars, industry and electricity generation
emits large amounts of these gases.
These gases are known as ‘greenhouse
gases’ because they trap heat in the earth's atmosphere. Over time,
more and more heat is retained, leading to an increase in the earth's average
surface temperature.
The Kyoto Protocol
Climate change is a global
challenge and requires a global solution. The 1997 Kyoto Protocol
is the only international treaty to address climate change. It established
targets and timetables for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by each
developed country.
However for seven years the
Kyoto Protocol did not come into effect: the Treaty needed individual ratification
by industrialised nations responsible for 55% of greenhouse gas emissions.
Russia’s ratification meant
that this threshold was finally met; the Kyoto Protocol will come into
worldwide effect. This is despite the world's biggest polluter, the
USA, still refusing to sign up to the treaty. The USA is responsible
for around 25% of the world's carbon dioxide emissions.
What’s in it for Swaziland?
Developing countries like
Swaziland suffer disproportionally from climate change. Russia’s
recent ratification of Kyoto will go some way towards alleviating some
of the impacts already being felt in Swaziland:
-
Drought. The effects
of drought are devastating in rural areas already stricken by poverty and
HIV/AIDS. The maize crop is frequently delayed or spoilt and boreholes
are drying up – all as a direct result of climate change.
-
Flooding. Climate
change isn’t just about warm temperatures. Weather is generally becoming
unpredictable and more extreme – remember the hailstorm on Malagwane last
Wednesday. Flooding is on the increase; Swaziland can’t afford a
repeat of the disastrous Cyclone Domonia in 1984 that killed countless
people and destroyed homesteads and crops.
-
Health. Instances
of serious diseases are predicted to rise across southern Africa because
of climate change. Higher temperatures lead to increased evaporation
in dams, with a resulting increase in diseases such as bilharzia, cholera
and malaria.
-
Conflict over resources.
There is a proven connection between ecological stress and social conflict.
In Swaziland there considerable competition for scarce natural resources,
such as drinking water or land for cattle grazing, in areas that are increasingly
parched and degraded due to climate change.
Climate change continues to have
a very real impact on the everyday lives of Swazi citizens. Russia’s
ratification of the Kyoto Protocol is a positive move towards global acceptance
of climate change. However, it is only a small step compared to the
radical reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that is needed. Kyoto
represents the beginning of efforts to change how we use our energy and
where it comes from.
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