In December 1997 the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was held in Kyoto, Japan to discuss a treaty to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases. Over 10,000 people attended including 1,500 delegates from 160 countries, 3500 observers, and 4000 media people. The outcomes of the conference were disappointing but not surprising given the strength of industry opposition to an effective treaty. Although the European Union had been pushing for average reductions of 15% below 1990 levels, the average turned out to be little more than 5% and three countries were in fact granted approval to increase their emissions (see table below ).

Australia	+8%	Iceland	+10%	Poland	-6%
Bulgaria	-8%	Japan	-6%	Romania	-8%
Canada	-6%	Latvia	-8%	Russia	0%
Croatia	-5%	Liechtenstein	-8%	Slovakia	-8%
Czech Rep.	-8%	Lithuania	-8%	Slovenia	-8%
Estonia	-8%	Monaco	-8%	Switzerland	-8%
EIJ	-8%	New Zealand	0%	Ukraine	0%
Hungary	-6%	Norway	+1%	United States	-7%

Alternative Targets Based on Equity Considerations

Current carbon emissions level (tons/person)	Suggested emissions target (per cent/year)	Sample countries
<0.5	+3.0	Kenya, India, Niger
0.5-1.0	+1.5	China, Nigeria, Philippines
1.0-1.5	0	Indonesia, Mexico, South Korea
1.5-2.0	-0.5	Italy, France, New Zealand
2.0-2.5	-1.0	Japan, Thailand, Peru
2.5-3.0	-2.0	United Kingdom, West Germany, Brazil
>3.0	-3.0	Australia, USA, Soviet Union

source: Flavin, 1990, p.25.

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