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UNITED NATIONS, PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP, GROUP OF 8 The
Kyoto Protocol, or United Nations Climate Change Conference, is
the primary avenue through which member nations of the U.N. are
working to reduce greenhouse gases. The second Kyoto meeting
was in November 2006, attended by 6000 persons from 180 countries,
but not the United States (the Bush administration has expressed no
interest in global warming, to the point of altering scientific
research to suit its views). Nonetheless, the U.N. is taking
increasing steps to address the problem of global warming through
two primary avenues: emissions reductions and global cooperation to
address climate change. U.N. policies include: Emissions
Trading, Joint Implementation (two nations sharing emission
reduction units), and Clean Development Mechanism (a project-based
mechanism where certified projects proposed by developed countries -
or companies from those countries - can be used to reduce emissions
in developing countries).
In addition, Australia, India, Japan, China, South Korea and the
United States (collectively accounting for about half the world's
population and more than half of the world's economy, energy use and
greenhouse gas emissions) have partnered in the Asia Pacific
Partnership (AP6) to reduce for the development and advancement
of technologies that promote a cleaner environment.
Also, the Group of 8 (Canada, France, Germany, Italy,
Japan, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the USA) hold
yearly economic and political summits of the heads of government
with international officials for the purpose of joint economic
development, poverty eradication, development of affordable modern
energy services, and protecting local and global environmental
quality.
AMERICAN CITIES AND STATES
Hundreds of cities in the United States have joined together in
the "Cool Cities" program and made commitments to stop global
warming by signing the
U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. As of February 2007,
376 mayors have accepted the challenge to address climate
disruption. In addition, more and more states are addressing
global warming on the state political level.
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