On Wednesday February 16, 2005, the Kyoto Protocol will enter into force. Under this UN treaty, over 100 countries representing 60% of the world's emissions of greenhouse gases formally begin the task of trying to turn back the clock on climate change.

While life on this planet has survived some very dramatic shifts in climate over billions of years, even rather small and short term changes in weather patterns have played a significant role in the collapse of past civilizations. The high percentage of the earth's resources presently consumed by humans, along with the global interdependence of national economies, doesn't give our present civilization much wiggle room in the face of sustained changes in rainfall, temperature or storm incidence. Therefore, the continued upward trend in global mean surface temperature, a 5¡C increase in arctic temperatures, a 10% decrease in snow cover at high latitudes of the northern hemisphere, the retreat of almost all non-polar glaciers, lower average rainfall in southern, northern and western Africa, and increased flooding in western and central Europe, are a source of concern not just for scientists and environmentalists, but for policy makers.

Annex 1 countries (the "developed" nations) who sign the protocol, commit to specific reductions in greenhouse gases between 2008 and 2012. They must put in place domestic policies and measures that would significantly reduce Carbon dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide, Hydrofluorocarbons, Perfluorocarbons, and Sulfur hexafluoride. Policies and measures can include: investments in energy conservation, alternative energy sources that do not produce greenhouse gases - solar, nuclear, hydropower, wind - taxes and subsidies to encourage shifts in the market, or other mechanisms. They can also offset emissions by expanding carbon sinks - basically increasing forested areas.

In addition to domestic initiatives, the treaty provides for cooperative approaches with other countries. These include 1) joint implementation - credit for emissions reductions or sinks implemented in another Annex 1 country; 2) clean development mechanisms (CDMs) - credit for projects in non-Annex 1 countries (which will also help them meet sustainable development targets); and 3) emissions trading (however, each country is required to hold a reserve amount of emissions credits so they don't trade away more than they can save).

Of course all of this will require some pretty sharp bookkeeping, and the protocol and its parent treaty (the1994 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change) provide for funding and mechanisms to keep track of country emissions, impact of domestic policies, implementation of effective joint implementation projects and clean development mechanisms, and accounting for emissions trading.

The U.S. has rejected the Kyoto Protocol on the grounds that it will disrupt the U.S. economy, it is not fair to Annex 1 countries (because developing countries don't have to make reductions), and it does not go far enough to address emissions (!?!). While the U.S. has not signed the treaty, it did propose a 7% reduction in emissions by 2012 at the 2000 Kyoto Protocol meeting. More energy efficient homes and appliances might save an average of 2-7% of domestic use. Infrastructure development that minimizes sprawl, and promotes walking, biking and using public transportation, could significantly reduce the amount of gasoline burned. These reductions in domestic and transportation energy use get multiplied as they move back up the supply chain because energy is wasted every time it gets transformed (coal to electrical energy, gasoline to kinetic energy). Economic policy that stops subsidizing fossil fuel use (tens of billions for coal alone), and rewards alternative energy could rapidly shift the market towards lower emission alternatives like wind or solar. Add on reforestation, or new forestation, joint development projects, clean development mechanisms for Africa, Asia and Latin America, and emissions trading with Appendix 1 countries and 7% becomes an achievable goal.

All about the Kyoto Protocol -
http://unfccc.int/essential_background/items/2877.php
How close are you to being Kyoto Compliant? -
http://nmazca.com/verba/kyoto.htm

BIO REGIONAL QUIZ: In which month does Columbia receive the most snowfall?
*Bonus Question: In what year did Columbia receive a record amount of snowfall for a 24 hour period?

JOB OF THE MONTH: Naturalist - Norman Bird Sanctuary; Middletown, RI. Responsibilities: Naturalist will develop and execute environmental education programs for varied audiences, care for education animals, and be responsible for weekend programs. Status: Full-time, year round position. Qualifications: Bachelors degree, environmental education/natural history experience, flexible schedule, willingness to work in a team atmosphere, and ability to hike through rough terrain and lift 35 lbs. Salary: $21,000 to $25,000, good health benefits. Application Procedure: Start date is mid-March/April. Send resume, cover letter and 3 references to: Lauren Parmelee, Director of Education; The Norman Bird Sanctuary; 583 3rd Beach Rd.; Middletown, RI 02842-5700; OR email at: lparmelee@normanbirdsanctuary.org.

Special Events/Classes/Programs/Talks
ORGANIC GARDENING WORKSHOPS: Beginning Sunday Feb. 13, 2:00pm-4:00pm. Learn the basics of organic gardening. Registration is $20 general/$10 student. For more information call Peaceworks at 875-0539 or visit: http://peaceworks.missouri.org/homepage.html
E.O. WILSON - "THE FUTURE OF LIFE": Tuesday Feb. 15, 7:30 pm Jesse Hall, MU Campus. Pulitzer Prize winning scientist speaks on ecological and environmental issues currently facing us. Sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences.
NATIVE PLANT PROPAGATION WORKSHOP: Monday Feb. 14, 7:00pm. Sponsered by Missouri Wild Ones & MO Native Plant Society. For more information call Scott Hamilton at 882-9909 ext. 3257 or email at wildonesmo@yahoo.com
TREEKEEPERS VOLUNTEER TRAINING: Beginning Tuesday Feb. 22, 6:00pm - 8:30pm. A training course in the proper care and maintenance of trees. Registration is required and limited. For more information, call 874-7499 or visit: www.gocolumbiamo.com/Volunteer/Opportunities/ treekeepers.html
OPEN HOUSE BONNE FEMME GROUP: Wednesday Feb. 23, 5:00pm to 8:00pm at Little Bonne Femme Baptist Church. Learn about the Bonne Femme Watershed Group, provide your input, view displays about the watershed (presentations at 5:30 & 7:00). For more information contact Terry Frueh at 886-4330.
NATURAL RESOURCES SPEAKER: Friday Feb. 25, 3:00pm in 123 Natural Resources Bldg. Dr. Stephen Stephenson, "Upland Forests of the Appalachians"
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE SPEAKER: Monday Feb. 28, 4:00 pm 204 General Classroom Building, MU. Michael Holmes, St. Louis Community College - William J. Harrison Northside Education Center.
ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR. : Wednesday March 9, 7:30 pm, Launer Auditorium, Columbia College, Kennedy serves as a senior attorney of the Natural Resources Defense Council, chief prosecutiing attorney for the Hudson Riverkeepers and is co host of Ring of Fire on Air America Radio. http://www.ccis.edu/newsroom/index.asp?story=442

MU Organization Meetings and Contact Information
ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS: http://www.missouri.edu/~jesse105/committees/pages/environmental.htm
RECYCLING COMMITTEE: 882-3091
SUSTAIN MIZZOU: 882-7116 Wednesday Feb. 9 and 16. at 7:30 pm, meet in 200 A&S
STUDENT ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONS ASSOCIATION: 882-7116 Tuesday Feb. 1 and 15, at 5:30 pm 114 Natural Resources Building

Organization Meetings and Contact Information
AUDUBON SOCIETY: 874-3904 / columbia-audubon.missouri.org Meet 3rd Wed 7:30 pm, USGS, 4200 New Haven
BOONE COUNTY SMART GROWTH COALITION: http://smartgrowth.missouri.org/, 1st Wednesdays 7:15 Boone Co Govt Ctr.
CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING: 875-0539 or http://peaceworks.missouri.org/
CHOUTEAU GROTTO: http://chouteau.missouri.org/, Meet 1st Wed, 7 pm, Community Room of the Boone Electric Coop
COLUMBIA FOOD CIRCLE: 882-7463 or email hendricksonm@missouri.edu for information.
COLUMBIA PUBLIC WORKS VOL. PROGRAMS: 874-6271 or http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Volunteer/Opportunities/#PW
COMMUNITY STORMWATER PROJECT: 884-8333 or http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/PublicWorks/StormWater/cswp.html
ENV EDUCATION WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES: http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/teacher/workshops/
FRIENDS OF ROCK BRIDGE M. S. P.: 815-9255 or http://rockbridge.missouri.org/ Outdoors Bldg, 200 Old 63 S.
GREENBELT COALITION: 442-4789 or http://greenbelt.missouri.org Meet 1st Tuesdays, 7 pm, Outdoors Bldg, 200 Old 63 S.
MISSOURI NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY: npshawth@hotmail.com 2nd Mondays in Jan, Mar, May, July, Sept, Nov at 7:00 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Church, 2615 Shepard Blvd, Columbia, MO.
MISSOURI RIVER COMMUNITIES NETWORK: 443-0292 or http://mrcn.missouri.org/
PEDNET COALITION: email: pednet@pednet.org or http://www.pednet.org
RIVER RELIEF: http://www.riverrelief.org/
ROCK BRIDGE MEMORIAL STATE PARK: 449-7402 or http://rockbridge.missouri.org
SHOW ME CLEAN STREAMS COALITION: (573) 751-4115 ext 3169 or www.mostreamteam.org
SIERRA CLUB: 443-4401 or http://sierra.osage.missouri.org Meet 3rd Tuesdays 7:30 pm Hillel Foundation, 1107 University Ave
WILD ONES: 499-3749 or email wildonesmo@yahoo.com, http://wildones.missouri.org Meetings 2nd Saturdays. Call for location

Answer to BioRegional Quiz: February is the snowiest month in Columbia, averaging 6 inches of snowfall.
*Bonus: In January 1995 Columbia received 19.7 inches of snowfall.

Feedback - Got an opinion? If we have space, we will consider publishing it. Submit it by email (envstudy@missouri. edu), snail mail (Environmental Studies, 211 Lowry , MU, Columbia MO 65211), or call Jan Weaver to talk about it (882-7116). MU Environmental Network News is published by MU's Environmental Studies Initiative. All opinions expressed are the responsibility of the editor. Any part of this newsletter may be copied for distribution but please give us credit.

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