Chip in America

In December 1997, 37 countries met in Japan to come up with solutions to battle climate change. The Kyoto Protocol set legally binding commitments for countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5% from 2008-2012. Although the United States produces 25% of the world’s emissions, they did not sign the commitment.

In December 2009, 183 countries will again meet to discuss climate change. Currently the U.S. congress is working on health care and says that they will tackle this problem before moving on to problems concerning climate change, there fore will not use the next three months to prepare a commitment for the upcoming event.

While health care is a very pressing concern, so is the state and fate of our fragile Earth. Without a life sustaining, healthy planet, there will be no need for health insurance anyway! If we do not participate this time around, it may be too late! As a # 1 producer of the problem, we, as a “role model” to developing countries, should be first in line to help reduce emissions and save our planet.