Joseph Knollenberg: “As the Kyoto negotiations on global warming draw near, millions of Americans' jobs are on the chopping block. The…”

“As the Kyoto negotiations on global warming draw near, millions of Americans' jobs are on the chopping block. The Clinton administration seems to be willing to sign on to an agreement that places the entire burden of reducing carbon emissions on the industrialized nations. In fact, the current language of the treaty exempts 132 of the world's 166 nations. Why is that troubling? Because the nations exempt from this U.N. treaty currently produce 50 percent, one-half, of carbon emissions and will account for 75 percent of such emissions over the next century. Therefore, this treaty would provide almost no benefit at all, but the economic impact on the United States would be devastating. Placing the entire burden on complying with this treaty on countries like the United States could turn the Third World into an enterprise zone and create a giant sucking sound of American jobs going overseas. Mr. Speaker, during the Kyoto negotiations, the Clinton administration must protect American workers, demand fairness, and reject any treaty that places the entire burden of reducing carbon emissions on the United States and on the other industrialized nations. Anything less would be like giving jobs away.”