Running head: NATURAL GAS AND THE KYOTO PROTOCOL 1

Literature Review: Increasing Natural Gas Use and the Kyoto Protocol
Pedro A. Perez
University of Texas at El Paso

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Introduction
Global warming is the emission of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. It leads to
extreme heat on earth than normal thus altering the climatic patterns of the world. Presently, the
world is hotter than it was two thousand years ago, and it is anticipating swift rise of the sea level
and more severe weather than scientists had initially foreseen. In fact, by the end of this century,
if the present trend persists, the global temperature will probably be higher than any time in the
initial two million years. Different scientists and scholars have tried to address the issue by
sounding an alarm and offering solutions, but the enactment process has been a problem (Cowie,
2007). one of the greatest solutions offered by a majority of the scholars and scientists who
tackle global warming and climate change mention about increasing the use of natural gases.
Additionally, there have been global efforts to address the challenges of climate change in the
world. Several conferences have been hosted by the stakeholders and the signing of several parts
that relates to combating climate change. Among the famous and broadly discussed is the Kyoto
Protocol.
Purpose
The research will comprehensively examine the dilemma as to whether Kyoto protocol
will help combat climate change or not. It will also evaluate the integration of natural gases in
the world as an effort to reduce the use of greenhouse gases. However, this literature review
examines some of the scholarly opinions on the concept of use of natural gas and the Kyoto
protocol. It begins by giving some guiding questions that the review will attempt to answer.
Research Questions
I.
II.

What are the effects of climate change?

What are the benefits of using natural gas?

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III.

What should be done to increase the use of natural gases in the world?

IV.

Why is natural gas not going to save the world?

V.
VI.

What is Kyoto Protocol and what impact does it have?

What are the Benefits of Implementing the Kyoto Protocol?

VII.

Why are the critics considering the protocol to be flawed?

These questions are the guidelines for the research that will be conducted on this subject.

However, several scholars have attempted to address them in detail, and here are some of their
responses.
Effects of Climate Change
The impact of climate change is already observable in the world. Glaciers have melted
on top of mountains thus increasing the sea level since all the melted ice finds its way to the
oceans. This destroys beaches, buildings, and plantations or farms on the shores of the oceans
and seas. When the ice water enters the ocean, it affects its PH thus interfere with aquatic life.
Oceans are often salty and support numerous water creatures. The inclusion of ice water
interferes with these creatures because it alters the temperatures and salinity of the ocean water.
Moreover, ice on rivers and lakes is breaking up prior to their time, thus affects aquatic life.
Plants and animal ranges have moved, and trees are flowering sooner than expected. Increase of
temperatures on earth makes the environment non-conducive for people. Climate change affects
forestry and wildlife because trees dry up while forests catch fire anyhow and destroy wildlife.
Trees and grass dry up, wild life dies from hunger. That affects tourism, the environment,
and the economy of nations and the world at large. Humans also starve because of the increased
droughts and lack of food. In fact, currently, at least 900 million people in the world struggle to

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have normal meals a day while at least 50 million die of hunger every year. Therefore, climate
change is a serious crisis that must be handled with urgency.
Benefits of Using Natural Gas
The reason for global warming is the continuous burning of fossil fuels and using coal as
the main source of energy. James Speight (2007) suggests that integration of natural gas means
replacing coal as the source of energy in the world. First, that will reduce the sulfate pollution
that leads to acid rain, particulate emissions that lead to the majority of the lung diseases.
Moreover, the process of mining coal also generates the mercury that causes brain damage. If
minimal coal is mined, the work-related death and illnesses will lessen in coal miners. The
destruction caused by harming forms of mining including the elimination, in certain parts of the
US, of whole mountains, can lessen or be stopped completely (Speight, 2007). Coal mining
affects the environment at large because when mountains are destroyed, the landscape of the area
changes. Natural gas has no significant effect on the environment because its use will highly
reduce the emission of greenhouses gases to the atmosphere.
As Peter Bobrowsky (2013) mentions, natural gas is a multipurpose energy source with
numerous applications. It is used for domestic functions such as home cooling and heating, fuel
for transportation, and also for cooking. It is also used in industries for steam heat production
which has many uses. Natural gas is also a good source for generating electricity and for
manufacturing activities. For example, it is used for production of steel, forest products, glass,
clothing, petrochemicals, fertilizer and cements among other things (Bobrowsky, 2013).
For that reason, Speight (2007) mentions that if the use of natural gas is fully integrated, it will
only take one decade for the world to experience normal climatic conditions. Therefore, he

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proposes that the world needs to learn different means of increasing the use of natural gas and get
rid of burning fossil fuels and the use of coal for energy production.
The Use of Natural Gas
As observed earlier, the use of natural gas is the best replacement for burning of fossil
fuels to generate coal energy. Peter Bobrowsky (2013) stipulates that the best way to increase the
use of natural gas in the world is to empower the world and to increase awareness of the energy.
Several people are not aware of natural gas, and they do not know how to use it. However,
Speight (2007) states that the initial step should be taken by the government, which should invest
in advertising the use of natural gas. The government should use both print and electronic
Medias to advertise the benefits of natural gas and increase its awareness among the civilians.
Ackerman and Knox (2012), applauds the US government by mentioning that its efforts to
integrate natural gas are eminent. The Obama administration leads by example as it has made the
development of natural gas a centerpiece of its energy policy.
Moreover, environmental associations such as the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)
have reinforced the use of gas (Ackerman & Knox, 2012). What the US government is doing
now employ natural gas in the generation of electricity. At least 96 percent of the US population
uses electricity for household and business activities. Therefore, if the US government manages
to change the source of the country's electricity to natural gas, it will have made a tremendous
step towards reducing carbon emission in the country. Ackerman and Knox (2012) add that
President Obama went a notch higher to endorse fracking the contentious technique of
extracting natural gas from low penetrability shales. The President believes that the gas extracted
can offer a bridge to a minimized carbon future and play a critical role in fighting climate
change.

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Linda Cook, the CEO of Gas & Power, Shell Trading, Global Solutions and Technology,
mentions that like numerous people, she is convinced that natural gas will be an essential conduit
to dirt free, lower-carbon energy future. It may take like 2 decades or even more before
alternative bases of heart or power such as solar energy, become modest. Meanwhile, demand for
electricity will have almost doubled, and there will be a need for a clean, inexpensive fuel to
meet this development. It is where natural gas will be vital in joining the gap (Goldemberg,
2012). As Goldemberg, (2012) stipulates, oil will continue to meet the increasing need for
transport fuels for the predictable future, with natural gas a promising base of hydrogen in cars if
fuel cells.
Why is natural gas not going to save the world?
Some critics argue that natural gas will not be the best solution for resolving the
challenges of global warming. One of them is Naomi Oreskes, who argues that the problem of
burning fossil fuels cannot be resolved by burning fossil fuels. According to her, natural gas
(CH4) is the worst gas than even CO2 especially in relation to heating the atmosphere (Oreskes,
2014). Oreskes (2014) argues that gas is superior to oil for heating homes, but oil does not leak
into the atmosphere. Natural gas is simply methane one of the greenhouse gases and far more
powerful than CO2. Consequently, gas leaks cause numerous concerns because any methane that
penetrates the atmosphere unburned contributes to global warming more than a similar amount
generated by CO2.
Nevertheless, Barton (2006), disagrees with Oreskes as he mentions that the argument
concerning CH4 is complex because in as much as methane warms the planet faster than carbon
gas, it stays in the atmosphere for extremely minimal time. A distinctive molecule of CO2 stays in

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the atmosphere approximately ten times longer than a molecule of methane gas. Therefore, CO2
contributes more to global warming than CH4.
Kyoto Protocol and its Impacts
Larry West (2012) explains that Kyoto Protocol refers to a worldwide agreement
associated with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC),
which obligates its parties through setting globally binding emission reduction targets.
Identifying that the developed nations are primarily liable for the present high levels of GHG
emissions because of more than one century of industrial activities, the Protocol puts huge
burden on developed countries under the code of common but distinguished responsibilities
(West, 2012). West (2012), mentions that the supporters of the Kyoto Protocol lessening the
emission of greenhouse gases is a significant step in reversing or slowing global warming. It
means that instant transnational collaboration is required if the world is to have a solemn hope of
averting devastating climate alterations.
According to Bohringer (2003), the main element of the Kyoto Protocol was the
establishment of targets for the worldwide lessening of greenhouse gas emissions. These targets
vary from -8 percent to +10 percent of a given nation's emissions levels in 1990, with the aim of
lessening the overall emissions in a nation by a minimum of 5 percent that had to be below their
1990 quantities in the period between 2008 and 2012. The principles and codes of the Protocol
are already operational in Japan, China, Australia, the US, India, and South Korea. The
agreement was signed in Kyoto, Japan in 1997, and its implementation was extremely difficult
for the developed nations such as the US. In fact, the Bush administration opposed it because the
implementation of the principle would have tremendous impacts on the economy of the US.
However, the Protocol was enacted in 2005 after the nations involved excluding US agreed

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to establish the Joint Implementation program. The US has become active with the
enforcement process since Obama took over power.
Benefits of Implementing the Kyoto Protocol
The significance of implementing the Protocol is obvious. As Gang (2006) mentions,
implementation of the principles agreed during the conference will enable the world to reduce
climate change immensely. First, the heat of the atmosphere will go back to normal thus
eliminating extreme heat on the surface of the earth. The result will be normal rainfall patterns
and regulated heat on earth. There will be plenty of food due to sufficient water for crops to
grow. Grass and forests will grow and provide sufficient food for the wildlife. Glaciers will stop
melting on top of the mountains and enable oceans to go back to the normal sea levels. The
shores of the oceans will become useful for beach activities, building, and plantation among
other activities. In general, the world will experience tremendous growth of the economy
because tourism will boom, fishing activities will flourish, water transportation will be effective,
mountains and landscapes will become highly attractive, streams and dried rivers will revive, and
majority of the domestic activities will boom (Gang, 2006). Therefore, it is essential for the
developed nations to enact the Kyoto Protocol and empower other nations in the third world to
adopt the same codes so that the mentioned benefits can be pertinent.
Criticism of the Kyoto Protocol
The Protocol is the only international agreement and effort to reduce emission of
greenhouse gases but still, it receives numerous oppositions. The Harvard scientists and
economists, for example, view the Protocol as economically ineffective, subjective, inequitable
and generally ineffective (Harvard Magazine, 2015). Their main concern is that the protocol fails
to integrate the biggest future sources of carbon emissions. The point out that China, for instance,

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will surpass the US in yearly emission of CO2 in three years time (Harvard Magazine, 2015).
According to Trujillo & Thurman (2014) the protocol set unrealistic targets which could not be
met by the time-limit provided. It was difficult for the majority of the countries to reduce the
emissions of their respective countries by 5 percent by 2008. The main reason is that the
reduction process had numerous effects on the economy of the involved nations. Moreover, the
enactment of the protocol was done in 2005, and it was unrealistic to stick to the initial target of
2008 to 2012.

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References
Ackerman, S. A., & Knox, J. (2012). Meteorology: Understanding the atmosphere. Sudbury,
Mass: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Barton, B. (2006). Regulating energy and natural resources. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Bobrowsky, P. T. (2013). Encyclopedia of natural hazards. Dordrecht: Springer.
Bohringer, C. (2003). The Kyoto Protocol: A review and perspectives. Mannheim: Zentrum fur
Europ. Wirtschaftsforschung.
Cowie, J. (2007). Climate change: Biological and human aspects. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press.
Gang, C. (December 01, 2006). The Kyoto Protocol and the Logic of Collective Action. Chinese
Journal of International Politics, 1, 4, 525-557.
Goldemberg, J. (2012). Energy: What everyone needs to know. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Harvard Magazine (2015). Problems with the Protocol. Uniting to Confront a Global Health
Crisis. Harvard University.
Oreskes N. (2014). Natural Gas Is Not Going to Save the World.
Speight, J. G. (2007). Natural gas: A basic handbook. Houston, Tex: Gulf Pub. Co.
Stiglitz, J. E., Edlin, A. S., & De, L. J. B. (2008). The economists' voice: Top economists take on
today's problems. New York: Columbia University Press.
Trujillo, A. P., & Thurman, H. V. (2014). Essentials of oceanography. Boston: Pearson.
West L. (2012). What is the Kyoto Protocol? Environmental Expert Comment, About.com.