The Protocol conspicuously lacks this feature. Without amending the treaty, the Senate will not ratify, but without ratification of the treaty, the UN parties cannot amend it. Thus, the treaty is a dead letter as far as Congress is concerned. At issue in the US delegation s press briefing was whether desperately poor countries could afford to participate meaningfully in emissions reductions. Rep. Klink emphasized the importance of wealth in protecting people and the environment.
Poverty is a leading cause of environmental degradation.
Hurricane Mitch has killed thousands in Central America but almost none in Florida. Americans are safer during extreme weather events because they are wealthier. In Buenos Aires, meaningful participation seems to mean developing countries agree to be recipients of U.S. money and technology transfers. Few Senators are likely to find these arguments persuasive. Signing the Protocol now, in Sen. Byrd s view, would also undermine U.S. leverage in future negotiations with major developing countries like China and India.