On your Mark, Get Set... Stall!

It's official - the most loved and hated environmental pact in decades comes into effect today. The five letters people either love or hate - Kyoto. What will the Kyoto protocol mean for consumers?

In North America, not much. The USA backed out long ago. Canada just announced plans to purchase emissions credits from Russia, rather than implement reforms.

There were activist protests in Italy over the lack of US involvement. Apparently, someone should inform the activists that Italy has announced they will break the unanimity of the EU coalition and back out of the prototocol when renewals are due in a few years.

So to review - the US is out. Canada isn't doing anything to reduce emissions save for some lip service public service announcements. Italy is making plans to leave. Russia is reluctantly signed up but has talked about getting out. China, India and other major developing nations were never in. Is Kyoto dying?

I think so. But that's OK - apparently, we can reduce greenhouse gases by changing the way we make tennis balls.