The Kyoto Protocol

Impacts of Room Temperature on the Performance of a Portable Propane Air Conditioner

“…Hydrocarbon refrigerants have zero effect on the ozone layer and a negligible effect on global warming (Oberthur et al, 1997), and are proposed to replace synthetic refrigerants. There are many recent published studies examining the performance of refrigeration and air conditioning systems using hydrocarbon refrigerants.…”

The North–South Divide in International Environmental Law: Framing the Issues

“…66 As natural resources become increasingly scarce, Southern countries are concerned about harnessing them to promote social and economic development. 77 These loose alliances and divisions within the global North and the global South complicate the treaty-negotiating process and, ultimately, international law-making. 67 The global North and the global South also have conflicting environmental priorities and concerns.…”

Fair Weather Friend? Ethics and Australia's Approach to Global Climate Change

“…Areas near the poles, for example, may benefit from increased agricultural yield from preciously frozen land and will be largely unaffected by effects such as the increase in vector-borne diseases or extreme weather events. 12 Some states, however, will be particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Most prominently, if sea levels rise by as much as 88 centimeters by 2100, as the IPCC has argued is possible, the continued existence of a number of low-lying island states would be threatened.…”

“…42 At negotiations in Berlin, the Australian Government supported the US in contesting the need for uniform legally binding targets and questioning the exclusion of developing states. 43 A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade report argued that attempts to set binding limits on greenhouse emissions should take into account the "differentiated responsibilities of parties and the special needs of fossil-fuel dependent economies", further noting that the Berlin mandate did "not go as far as Australia was seeking in providing for the gradual involvement of developing countries". 44 Under Prime Minister Keating, Australia retreated from its leadership position on global climate change.…”

“…62 Regarding fossil fuel exports, the government feared that a worldwide drop in the consumption of fossil fuels and the movement of fossil fuel industries to developing states would seriously affect Australia economically given that it was the world's largest coal exporter, and that these exports accounted for over 10 per cent of Australia's export earnings in 1995/1996. 63 The Australian Government was at pains to avoid couching its position in terms of this concern, however, fearing that such a rationale for its approach would allow its position to be conflated with that of the "obstructionist" OPEC states and undermine the "ethical" rationalization for its position. 64 The attempt on the Australian Government's part to "sell" their differentiation formula internationally was largely unsuccessful, however.…”