AR20: Resolution Text

LRB-5130/2

RCT:kmg:hmh

1997 - 1998 LEGISLATURE

1997 Assembly RESOLUTION 20

March 19, 1998 - Introduced by Representatives Duff, Green, Kreibich, Dobyns, Goetsch, Owens, Grothman, Urban and Gunderson. Referred to Committee on Rules.

AR20,1,1 Relating to: the Kyoto Protocol on Global Climate Change.

AR20,1,3 Whereas, the United States is a signatory to the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Global Climate Change ("FCCC"); and

AR20,1,7 Whereas, a proposed protocol to expand the scope of the FCCC was negotiated in December 1997 in Kyoto, Japan ("Kyoto Protocol"), potentially requiring the United States to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by 7% from 1990 levels during the period 2008 to 2012, with potentially larger emission reductions thereafter; and

AR20,1,10 Whereas, the Kyoto Protocol would require other major industrial nations to reduce emissions from 1990 levels by 6% to 8% during the period 2008 to 2012, with potentially larger emission reductions thereafter; and

AR20,1,13 Whereas, President William J. Clinton pledged on October 22, 1997, that "the United States will not assume binding obligations (in Kyoto) unless key developing nations meaningfully participate in this effort"; and

AR20,2,7 Whereas, on July 25, 1997, the U.S. senate adopted Senate Resolution No. 98 by a vote of 95 to 0, expressing the sense of the senate that "the United States should not be a signatory to any protocol to or other agreement regarding, the Framework Convention on Climate Change ... which would require the advice and consent of the Senate to ratification, and which would mandate new commitments to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions for the Developed Country Parties, unless the protocol or other agreement also mandates specific scheduled commitments within the same compliance period to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions for Developing Country Parties"; and

AR20,2,11 Whereas, developing nations are exempt from greenhouse gas emission limitation requirements in the FCCC, and refused in the Kyoto negotiations to accept any new commitments for greenhouse gas emission limitations through the Kyoto Protocol; and

AR20,2,14 Whereas, manmade emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide are caused primarily by the combustion of oil, coal and natural gas fuels by industries, automobiles, homes and other uses of energy; and

AR20,2,16 Whereas, the United States relies on carbon-based fossil fuels for more than 90% of its total energy supply; and

AR20,2,19 Whereas, achieving the emission reductions proposed by the Kyoto Protocol would require a 38% reduction in projected U.S. carbon emissions during the period 2008 to 2012; and

AR20,2,23 Whereas, developing countries exempt from emission limitations under the Kyoto Protocol are expected to increase their rates of fossil fuel use over the next 2 decades, and to surpass the United States and other industrialized countries in total emissions of greenhouse gases; and

AR20,3,4 Whereas, studies prepared by the U.S. government estimate that legally binding requirements for the reduction of U.S. greenhouse gases below 1990 emission levels would result in the loss of more than 900,000 jobs in the United States, sharply increased energy prices, reduced family incomes and wages, and severe losses of output in energy-intensive industries such as aluminum, steel, rubber, chemicals and utilities; and

AR20,3,8 Whereas, the failure to provide for commitments by developing countries in the Kyoto Protocol creates an unfair competitive imbalance between industrial and developing nations, potentially leading to the transfer of jobs and industrial development from the United States to developing countries; and

AR20,3,11 Whereas, increased emissions of greenhouse gases by developing countries would offset any environmental benefits associated with emissions reductions achieved by the United States and by other industrial nations; now, therefore, be it

AR20,3,18 Resolved by the assembly, That the Wisconsin assembly urges the President of the United States not to sign the Kyoto Protocol, nor to submit the protocol for ratification to the U.S. senate, until and unless the protocol is amended or otherwise revised, consistent with U.S. Senate Resolution No. 98, to include specific scheduled commitments for developing countries to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions within the same compliance period or periods as required for developed countries; and, be it further

AR20,3,22 Resolved, That the Wisconsin assembly urges the U.S. senate to reject any proposed protocol or other amendment to the FCCC that is inconsistent with this resolution, or that does not comply fully with U.S. Senate Resolution No. 98; and, be it further

AR20,4,3 Resolved, That the assembly chief clerk shall provide copies of this resolution to the President of the United States and to the members of Wisconsin's congressional delegation.

AR20,4,4 (End)